Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, has recently been at the centre of a social media controversy over its choice of uniform for its cabin crew..READ FULL CONTENT>>>>>>
The airline’s decision to cloth its cabin crew in Isiagu velvet fabric, native to the Igbos, to depict culture and tradition, has elicited a flurry of reactions on various social media platforms.
The controversy began after Chairman, Dr Allen Onyema, was seen walking with his cabin crew that operated the airline’s inaugural flight to London on Saturday.
The crux of the controversy lies in the airline’s departure from a more Westernized uniform, which is common among airlines, to a traditional Nigerian attire.
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While some netizens have praised Air Peace’s management for incorporating elements that traces the airline back to its cultural roots, many others have expressed criticism, viewing the choice as culturally insensitive and inappropriate.
The ongoing discussions on X have once again highlighted the deep-seated issues of ethnic and cultural diversity that exist within the country. Some users argued that Air Peace, as the country’s leading airline, should not be portrayed as representing only one region of the country.
_Below are the latest conversation about the Air Peace cabin crew uniform saga on X._
@aaakanfo voiced his criticism, saying “People who complained that Yoruba language is being spoken in Lagos and in our train stations have no single problem with Igbo identity being used to symbolize Nigeria in Air Peace? This is the hypocrisy that a lot of Yoruba people called out yesterday, not that they [care] if Air Peace [fully clothes its staff] in Igbo identity.”
In response to the names on the crew list, another user, @NZE, wrote, “In all these, you can guess which company is owned by an Igbo man and which is not owned by one. We’re too nationalistic and that’s why we get this backlash so much. If Air Peace tried this thing Globacom & Forte Oil did, the internet will be flying with ethnic bigotry.”
However, @samuelajayi countered, saying “How can anyone be angry with the record just achieved by Air Peace? That attire is what they’ve been wearing before now. Now they’re showing our cultural values to the world, you’re angry?”
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Commending the airline’s success, @afamdeluxo said, “I saw a few Igbo people criticize the Air Peace Hostess Isi Agu’s outfit until this particular aesthetically pleasing image hit the TL. Beyond mere aesthetics, the way something is presented can profoundly impact perception & reception. It’s a lesson that both future Allen and IVM should take note of.”
As the discussion continues, opinions remain divided between those who see the uniform as a progressive step towards promoting Nigerian culture and those who believe it promotes ethnic prejudice..READ FULL CONTENT>>>>>>
