AN EVALUATION OF DECORATED TRADITIONAL CLOTH USED IN TIV CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

1.1 Introduction

The Tiv man and woman descended and landed on their feet and began a living as husband and wife. Tiv tradition did not give them names at all. When they felt hunger, they plucked fruits and ate. They were satisfied, when they were thirsty; they used their palms to fetch water to drink or knelt down by the side of the stream or pool to drink. At night when it was cold, they entered a nearby cave and slept embracing each other. When they needed materials to cover their nakedness; broad fresh leaves were everywhere, they plucked and sew them together to cover their nakedness. They tied leaves around their waists (Dzurgba, 2012). The use of a given cloth depends on the physical structure, gender, culture purpose, social and geographical consideration as well as ones income level (Olu, 2001).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Tiv ethnic group was created by “Aondo” among other ethnic groups in Africa in particular and the world in general. According to Dzurgba (2012), Tiv tradition held that “Aondo” created man (Nomsor) and woman (Kwase) in the vault of heaven. “Aondo” let them descend down to the earth naked. It was the east of the earth (Far) that God sent them down to the earth naked (Idyeregh). As a result, the Tiv referred to the east as “Kwase hungwa idyeregh (woman came down naked). The man also came down naked, but the nakedness of a woman was a greater prominence.

Human survival depends largely on the level of productivity in the society. There are many areas to which the Tiv society has ventured into for the purpose of earning a living. These ventures include agriculture, trade, fishing, plantation agriculture, motor and other vehicle mechanics, block molding, masonry, blacksmithing, cloth weaving among many others. With diversification and specialization in agricultural produce, local industrialization has emerged as a way of improving the living conditions of the people in terms of earnings. One of such local crafts is cloth weaving. This is an art of manufacturing cloths with the use of cotton yarn and other fibre.

The Tiv traditional cloth is woven in predominately black and white with a manually designed loom. Although tie and dye and batik designs are veritable means that produces beautiful colours, Igirgi (2007), research has revealed that, Tiv textile industry depends excessively on local materials of „Beba‟ with the addition of „Kawa‟ that produce the black colour. While the white colour is obtain by maintaining the natural white colour of the cotton wool used. Advances in Technology have made it possible to change the difficulty and complexity often encountered in local production of colour. Colours are imported for use for tie and dye and batik design. Advances in technology have also made it possible to produce materials like black and white thread and other related colours, instead of using the old system of producing materials directly from back of trees, plant, leaf and earth (clay).

According to Dzurbga (2012) the increase of textile industry in Tiv land coupled with the introduction of money making crops like soya beans, beni seeds, cotton, rice etc which Hausa and Ibo traders patronized, quick money was realized for payment of children’s school fees, purchase of new cloths for wives, purchase of bicycle etc. The traditional cloth weaving industries are dominant in Tiv land especially in the area under study. It is on record that before the introduction of cash crops in Nigeria, weaving industries accounted for over 60% of the Tiv (Utor, 2014).

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to evaluate the decorated traditional cloth used in TIV cultural activities.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the materials (raw materials) used in the traditional cloth weaving are either becoming expensive or scarcely found. The poverty rate in the study area coupled with decline in the level of cotton production has affected the rate of traditional cloth weaving in Igedde local government area of Benue State. This has affected the earnings of the people as well as the living conditions of the Igedde people. The basic issue in the study is to find out how traditional cloth weaving serves as a means of earning a living among the Igedde people in the area under study.

The art of traditional cloth weaving has faced serious challenges in spite of the fact that this practice has helped in the improvement of living standard of the people. This is because; modern textile clothes have dominated the traditional cloth weaving industries and as a result of this, there is a slow pace of development of the traditional cloth weaving industries. Apart from that, the elderly people who were the custodians of the traditional weaving sails are gradually dying away as a result; the skills are likely to vanish among the Igedde people.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to evaluate the decorated traditional cloth used in TIV cultural activities. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine the influence of traditional cloth weaving on the earning and living condition of the area under study.
2. To identify the materials used for traditional cloth weaving industry among the people residing in the area under study.
3. To identify some challenges and problems associated with traditional cloth weaving in the study area.
4. To find out the various prospects associated with traditional cloth weaving industry in the study area.
5. To determine the various methods or techniques of traditional cloth weaving among the people residing in the area under study.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Do the people of the study area earn their living through cloth weaving?
• What are the various methods adopted in traditional weaving?
• What are the materials used for traditional cloth weaving among the study area dwellers?
• What are the various prospects associated with traditional cloth weaving industry in the study area?
• What are the challenges and problems associated with traditional cloth weaving in the study area?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There are no significant challenges associated with traditional cloth weaving in the area under study
• H1: There are significant challenges associated with traditional cloth weaving in the area under study

1.7 Significance of Study

The study will be relevant in providing information about the usage of the decorated traditional cloth among the Tiv clan community include rituals, identity, burial ceremonies, initiation and gift. This study will also be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Evaluation of Decorated Traditional Cloth Used in TIV Cultural Activities in Igedde Local Government Area of Benue State.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Definition of Operational Terms

Weft Stick: these are called fillers which run across the entire length of a weave from left to right or right to left.