The countdown to the much-anticipated Aso-Ebi Festival and Gala night which takes place on Thursday October 26 at the Grand Sapphire Hotel in Croydon, Surrey, has begun.
Veteran Broadcaster and Community Leader - Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin who is the Founder and Royal Host of the event, stated that: “It promises to be a spectacular annual event, which will serve as a celebration of ancient traditions and culture, a marketing tool, exhibition space and a capacity building initiative. Our main thrust is to re-capture a wide audience range, across the UK, Europe, Africa, Caribbean, Middle East, US etc, particularly targeting the African Diaspora communities in these territories.
Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin
Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin
“We will be specifically reaching out to people, institutions, businesses, entrepreneurs and organisations seeking knowledge with a platform for exceptional creative and artistic expression. We will also be offering trade and investment opportunities to make a difference within the wider market’s inventive and innovative space.”
Princess Adedoyin-Solarin explained that Aso in Yoruba means cloth or fabric, while Ebí means family or relatives; and Aso-Ebí - Family Cloth or Family Uniform has been an integral part of the traditional and cultural practices of the Yoruba people from ancient times. Family members adorn the same cloth or fabric for special occasions like marriages, festivals, birthdays, burials, house warming, naming ceremonies, and more.
According to Princess Adedoyin-Solarin, this original practice was really for identity, unity, social inclusion, support systems and love within the family, community, groups or associations. However in modern times, the practice has extended across Africa and the rest of the world, to include groups of friends, township unions, childhood friends, peers, classmates, professional groups, work colleagues etc.
Official Partners of the Aso-Ebi Festival include the Adire Oodua Textile Hub Nigeria, Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) and Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN), which are owned and run by HRM Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, wife of HIM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II - The Oonirisa of Ile-Ife & Spiritual Leader of Yorubas Worldwide. Olori Aderonke is also the ROYAL MATRON of the ASO-EBI FESTIVAL™ Brand.
Media partners include Arize! Media Services, DJA Media, Phoenix Newspaper, Brightnights Entertainment, Heritage TV and HTV Events, Femtej Creations, Doyin Ola Events & Media Consultants, Queen Mercillina Impactful Media and Community Bits TV.
Other Partners include: Taptap Send, Coastline Spirits UK and Aphro Palm Spirits Ghana.
Supporters include: Flutterwave Send, Nature Faithfuls, T40 Perfumes, Globalwiin Int, Enersto Bodycast, and Women4Africa. Guests to the event are being advised to arrive in their unique Avant Garde styled outfits, designed with and made from indigenous African fabrics, textiles, cloths and accessories.
Princess Adedoyin-Solarin added: “We encourage attendees to purchase tables of 10 group tickets or more at a further reduced price. Standard tickets are £145 per person with limited group bookings that will reduce this to £120, with a discount offer of £125 for Single Tickets ending on October 20.
"We expect between 350 to 400 attendees at the Aso-Ebi Festival Gala Night, which will mostly be people from the Nigerian, African and Caribbean communities. We also have Royal Guests of Honour, Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses attending from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon and South Africa. Also other Special Guests from our other numerous diverse communities across the UK, who have a deep love and admiration for the rich and beautiful Nigerian culture and traditions."
She added that there will also be an Aso-Ebi Festival Recognition Awards for outstanding groups and individuals.