All the party wey dem dey do for Lagos city
Na there wey you go find mommy Risi
She no dey carry lasti o
She no dey gree
Simi’s Owambe has done justice to the concept of Owambe in Nigeria.
What’s a Saturday in Nigeria without loud gbedu blasting from the speakers in the street, canopies and white chairs, or people wearing matching materials in different colors? That’s not a Saturday, I tell you.
Owambe is an age-long tradition in Nigeria that is here to stay. The young love it. The old enjoy it. And if you haven’t been to one in a while, your body begins to crave it.
Owambe is culture and I’ll tell you all about it in this article.
Origin of Owambe
The word Owambe (also pronounced owanbe) is coined from the Yoruba phrase “O wa ni ibe”, which literally means “it is there”.
The phrase started in the 1960s. It was believed that the Ileke idi (waist beads) was an essential part of any attractive Yoruba woman’s beauty accessories. When dancing with ladies at parties, Yoruba men frequently check to feel the beads around their partners’ waists.
Once a man was dancing with a woman and he felt for the beads around her waist with his hands, his comrades would all inquire in unison, “sowambe?” (is it there?). If yes, he would reply in the affirmative with “Owambe” (it is there?).
That is how the term “Owambe” came to be used to characterize social gatherings that attractive and outgoing ladies frequent up till the present day. Quite a raunchy beginning for Owambe, if you ask me.
Owambe is a general name for Yoruba parties. Other Nigerian cultures have picked features of these parties as well. An owambe could be a wedding ceremony (we especially love these, especially when some drama involving an ex or two goes down), burial ceremony (Lord have mercy, but what do they put in burial rice that makes it so sweet?), housewarming, child dedication, wedding anniversary, graduation party… literally anything you can think of.
Everything and anything that sounds like a celebration is an excuse for owanbe.
Features of a Proper Owanbe
Loud Music
Also known as gbedu, this is one of the main features of an owambe. If the speakers do not shake the ground or cause some temporary ear damage, then the party has not started.
From these speakers, you would hear afro-pop, fuji and juju music. From the latest ones to the ones from the 90s.
And, peradventure, if you want to ‘scatter your guests’ head’, hire a live band. Especially those ones that call the names of the guest and sing eulogies.
This loud music is usually accompanied by excessive spraying of mint notes. To celebrate with the host and other guests, you need to spray mint notes as the music is playing. This is to show your joy and to celebrate the hosts on whatever the occasion is.
Aso – Ebi
Aso-Ebi, literally meaning ‘family clothes’, is the uniform for the party and another main characteristic of owambe.
You will see men and women in matching materials of different styles. It usually comes with ‘gele’ for the ladies and ‘fila’ for the guys.
In many instances, Aso-Ebi is used to recognize certain people at a party. At a wedding party, the friends of the bride would wear a different material from the friends of the groom. The siblings of the bride will also wear something different from the siblings of the groom, while the general guests and family members wear something different as well.
The materials may also be of different colors or materials.
Nobody can deny the glitz and glamour that comes with Aso-Ebi at an owambe. The styles, the mixing and matching, it is literally the only reason some of us attend these ceremonies. That, and obviously the food.
Food
Any owambe without surplus food and/or an argument over someone not collecting food has failed in its mission. That is a simple truth.
Jollof rice, Amala on the run, Iyan, whatever Nigerian delicacy you can think of… all are readily available at an owambe. Some parties even have intercontinental dishes!
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Guests get to take home food from the party in takeaway packs and nylon bags. Most come prepared. Owambe is a vibe, I tell you.
There’s usually a variety of soups and traditional dishes but the king of them all, jollof rice is always available in surplus.
The downside to this though, is the battles that ensue at these parties. Meat must go missing. One group must have more food than the other (and probably rub it in). Some people won’t eat. Enemies are made at the food table. You would see prim and proper ladies fighting for food packs, but again who would after paying over N50,000 for Asoebi?
Word in the street is if you want to know if your babe is cool, calm and collected, take her to an owambe and ensure she doesn’t get food, you will see her true colors.
Don’t say I didn’t do anything for you.
Souvenir
Owambe souvenir! Especially from Yoruba people? Ah!
I once saw a wedding where they gave petrol as souvenirs during scarcity. I was shocked.
The “thank you” for coming gifting game at Nigerian parties is on lock! You cannot go back the way you came, no way! Apart from souvenirs shared by the celebrants, well-wishers will also give out presents to the guests.
These presents could range from the cheapest things, like a box of matches, to really expensive things. Your prayer is to attend owambe organized by the upper average or the 1% of the 1%. That is when you’ll understand the true meaning of souvenir.
Mo gbo, Mo ya people
These people were not invited to the party. They don’t even know the celebrants. As the name ‘Mo gbo, Mo ya’ implies, they literally heard or saw the party happening and decided to grace the event. They are the uninvited guests.
Mo gbo, Mo ya will come into your owambe, sit with guests, eat, drink, take souvenir, wipe their mouths and go home. Some are also friends of people you invited, who then invited their friends too, who then… you get the gist.
This is probably why owambes in Lagos are strict these days. With rules like if you do not have asoebi or gele, you cannot come in.
Sometimes over 40% of your guests will consist of Mo gbo, mo ya people and you’ll start wondering why you have so many guests at your party. My dear, you have been swindled.
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The opportunity to network
My single pringles, you know I’d never do anything without putting you in mind. If you are looking to get a partner, then get to an owambe dear. Better yet, ensure you are part of the Aso-Ebi ladies or groomsmen.
Why?
Because how else can you show your skills and assets?
You are literally killing 2 birds with one stone.
One, you are scouting for someone you like, observing their behaviors and attitudes – because let’s be honest, some people lose their manners at these events.
Two, you are actively putting yourself out there, making it known that you are available.
People have met their life partners at owambes, so why can’t you?
Apart from meeting potential life partners, you could meet and make friends with really great people. If you are looking to expand your circle, owambe can be a good place to do that.
READ: 12 Latest Lace Gown Styles for Ladies (2023)
Owambe: The gift that keeps on giving
Owambe is a gift from heaven that has shown Nigerians a lot of love. From providing food to friends (and sometimes more), and opportunities… even job opportunities. Yes! Whether you agree or not, Owambe has provided job opportunities for many Nigerians.
From caterers popularly called ‘olopo’, to event management firms, fashion designers, ushering firms, decorators, bakers, videographers, and cinematographers, there is almost no industry exempt from providing services at a proper owambe party.
Owambe is a masterclass. C’est finis.
Finally, I don’t know if you know this, but it is a crime to say ‘owambe party’. What’s that? Owambe already means party.
T for thanks.
