Fine ELEPHANT ROBE a beautiful older Hausa Nigerian Elite Man's Tunic Baba Riga

Description

Important Man's Robe with Decorative Embroidery. Cotton, silk - babba riga / agbada / boubou - Hausa - Nigeria AFRICAN textile.
A huge 5 pound man's tunic, strip-woven cotton indigo dyed and asymmetrical design in fine chain stitch. Hausa people, Nigeria, West Africa, Pre-1960. Worn and used tunic with some stains from wear. A distinctive vintage example of the traditional hand-woven and laboriously embroidered, important over-the-head garment worn by elites in Nigeria. Meticulous embroidery has long been valued in the culture as early as the fifteenth century. Hausa embroidery is created for men, entirely by men. The process of embroidering robes like this is a long and involved process often taking months to complete. Baba riga robes, or great robes were embellished by learned men known as malam, (a title akin to "master" or "teacher"). They employed their knowledge of geometry, calligraphy, and numerology to produce visually and spiritually effective works of art using understood protective motifs. Hausa robes such as this were, and still are, are mainly worn by Hausa men on special occasions, such as weddings and funerals. They are also worn throughout Nigeria by kings, chiefs, and other important men. These are an enduring African tradition and Baba Riga are copied meaning commercial examples are generally available.  Older examples however are increasingly rare, and highly collectible. Hausa robes can also be important family heirlooms. Over 103" inches wide.
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Important Man's Robe with Decorative Embroidery.
Indigenous object name
babba riga / agbada / boubou
Ethnic group/ culture
Hausa
Region/ country
Nigeria
Material
Cotton, silk
Period
1st half 20th century
Condition
Good, with moderate and faint stains from wear
Sold with stand
No
Dimensions
3×127×260 cm
Weight
4.95 lb