Yoruba clothing is the traditional clothing worn by people of the Yoruba ethnic group in parts of Nigeria, Benin and Togo in a region called Yorubaland. The clothing reflects the rich culture, history and aesthetic preferences of the Yoruba people.
The main components of Yoruba women's clothing are:
Agbada: It is a multi layered robe worn by Yoruba men. It is worn both as a ceremonial outfit and for casual outings.
Pakaja / Kaja: This is a Toga-like clothing worn by Yoruba men.
Fila: These are Yoruba men's caps. They include Fila Abeti Aja, fila Gobi and Fila Kufi. Fila abeti Aja is styles with two "handles" that can be moved, Fila Gobi has a dropped side while Fila Kufi is from the Islamic religion.
Shokoto : A Yoruba man's native trousers style
Kembe : A baggy trousers
Gbariye : A type of clothing similar to Agbada but less layered and shorter
Danshiki: A native shirt
Yoruba clothing is made from both indigenous Yoruba made fabrics and some imported fabrics which has become a staple in Yoruba culture. Some of the common fabrics used for making Yoruba women's clothing are:
Fabrics no longer in use:
Kijipa: [16] This was mainly used by Regular and Crafts people in the past. It had a rough texture, was made of raw hand spun cotton. Kijipa was woven on indigenous narrow and wide looms. It is no longer used today and may sometimes be closely depicted in some types of Yoruba historical movies.
Ibante/bante: An old fabric type used by Yoruba farmers. [17]
Elegheghe: The Elegheghe was the local cloth of the highest quality in Owo kingdom and was usually presented as gifts to august visitors. It had two prominent types. Elegheghe Dudu and Elegheghe Pupa. [18] [19]
Yoruba women's clothing is not only a form of dressing but also a form of expression and identity. The clothing reflects the personality, mood, taste, and creativity of the wearer. The clothing also conveys messages about the social status, marital status, age group, religious affiliation, and cultural affiliation of the wearer. Yoruba women's clothing is also influenced by the history and culture of the Yoruba people. The clothing reflects the traditions, values, and beliefs of the Yoruba people. [20]
And so on.
Yoruba women's clothing is also an impactful part of the Nigerian culture and the African culture. The clothing showcases the diversity, beauty, and richness of Yoruba people and by extension the African continent and its people. The clothing also inspires and influences other forms of art and expression, such as music, dance, literature, and cinema. For example:
Yoruba women's garments have evolved over centuries, adapting to changes in fashion, lifestyle, and societal norms. [21]
African clothing is the traditional clothing worn by the people of Africa.
The culture of Nigeria is shaped by Nigeria's multiple ethnic groups. The country has 527 languages, seven of which are extinct. Nigeria also has over 1,150 dialects and ethnic groups. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausas that are predominantly in the north, the Yorubas who predominate in the southwest, and the Igbos in the southeast. There are many other ethnic groups with sizeable populations across the different parts of the country. The Kanuri people are located in the northeast part of Nigeria, the Tiv people are in the north central, and the Efik-Ibibio are in the south South. The Bini people are most frequent in the region between Yorubaland and Igboland.
A kufi or kufi cap is a brimless, short, and rounded cap worn by men in many populations in North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. It is also worn by men throughout the African diaspora. The cap has strong associations with many Islamic cultures and pan-African pride. In the United States and the United Kingdom, it is also called a "taqiyah".
The wrapper, lappa, or pagne is a colorful garment widely worn in West Africa by both men and women. It has formal and informal versions and varies from simple draped clothing to fully tailored ensembles. The formality of the wrapper depends on the fabric used to create or design it.
A head tie, also known as a headwrap, is a women's cloth head scarf that is commonly worn in many parts of West Africa and Southern Africa. The head tie is used as an ornamental head covering or fashion accessory, or for functionality in different settings. Its use or meaning can vary depending on the country and/or religion of those who wear it. Among Jewish women, the Biblical source for covering hair comes from the Torah in the book of Bamidbar Parshas Nasso which contains the source for the obligation of a married woman to cover her hair. An eesha sotah is a woman whose husband suspects her of having acted immorally. The Torah commands the Kohein to take various steps to demonstrate that the sotah has deviated from the modest and loyal path of most married Jewish women. Among the procedures, the pasuk clearly states: "ufora es rosh haisha..."and he shall uncover the hair of the head of the woman (5:18). One can only uncover something that has previously been covered; in this case the Torah is referring to the married woman's hair. Among Christian women in certain parts of the world, such as Africa and the Caribbean, the head tie is worn as a headcovering in obedience to 1 Corinthians 11:4–13.
The Egba people are a subgroup of the Yoruba people, an ethnic group of western Nigeria, a majority of whom are from the central part of Ogun State, that is Ogun Central Senatorial District.
African textiles are textiles from various locations across the African continent. Across Africa, there are many distinctive styles, techniques, dyeing methods, and decorative and functional purposes. These textiles hold cultural significance and also have significance as historical documents of African design.
Adire (Yoruba) textile is a type of dyed cloth from south west Nigeria traditionally made by Yoruba women, using a variety of resist-dyeing techniques. The word 'Adire' originally derives from the Yoruba words 'adi' which means to tie and 're' meaning to dye. It is a material designed with wax-resist methods that produce patterned designs in dazzling arrays of tints and hues. It is common among the Egba people of Ogun State.
Fila gobi is a soft hat traditionally worn by the Yoruba people of Western Africa. It is made of hand-woven aso oke fabric, cotton, velvet, or damask. They are usually lined with cotton, but can be unlined if crafted to be worn for a single event.
Aso oke fabric, is a hand-woven cloth that originated from the Yoruba people of Yorubaland within today's Nigeria, Benin and Togo. Usually woven by men, the fabric is used to make men's gowns, called agbada and hats, called fila, as well as Yoruba women's wrappers called Iro and a Yoruba women's blouse called Buba and a gown called Komole, as well as a head tie, called gele and so on.
The Yoruba people are a West African ethnic group who mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by the Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute more than 50 million people in Africa, are over a million outside the continent, and bear further representation among members of the African diaspora. The vast majority of the Yoruba population is today within the country of Nigeria, where they make up 20.7% of the country's population according to Ethnologue estimations, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Most Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language, which is the Niger-Congo language with the largest number of native or L1 speakers.
Akwete cloth is a hand woven textile produced in Igboland for which the town of Akwete, also known as Ndoki, both which the cloth was named after in Abia state, Nigeria is famous. Alternative names include "Aruru" meaning "something woven", "Mkpuru Akwete" and "Akwete fabric". This traditional Igbo weaving processes sisal, hemp, raffia, cotton or other fibres into finished products. While the coarse raffia materials are used by masquerades and in the past as headgear for warriors among other uses, the hemp material was used to weave towels, ropes and handbags. The more comfortable and colorful spun cotton is used to weave cloth for everyday wearing. Akwete cloths contain many motifs. Today, women continue to produce Akwete cloth for a wide, global market.
The boubou or grand boubou is a flowing wide-sleeved robe worn across West Africa, and to a lesser extent in North Africa, related to the dashiki suit.
Asọ-Ẹbí (Yoruba), sometimes spelt as Asọẹbí in Nigeria is a uniform dress or dressing code/style that is traditionally worn by the Yoruba People is an indicator of cooperation, camaraderie and solidarity during ceremonies, events and festive periods. The purpose of wearing the dress can be to serve as self-identification with age mates, relatives or friends during social occasions or funerals.
The Òǹkò, otherwise known as Òkè Ògùn people, are a Yoruba people group inhabiting the areas drained by the upper Ogun river in Northwestern Oyo state in Nigeria. They were historically a part of the once expansive Oyo empire, but are distinct from the Oyo proper.
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Gele is a traditional head tie native to Yoruba people of Nigeria, Benin and Togo. The gele comes in specific shapes and designs. Gele is worn with other Yoruba women's outfits, like Iro ati buba, Komole and Asoebi.
Agbada is the flowing robe traditionally worn by the Yoruba people across West Africa. It comes with an inner cloth of varying lengths and it also comes with a pair of bottom wear in form of native trousers called Shokoto. It also is worn most times with different caps like fila or abeti aja. Traditional Yoruba beads are often worn with it. The agbada is a male attire worn for special events and everyday life, depending on the extravagance of the garment. It is a distinct robe that comes in different styles and designs.
Aso Olona is a traditional Yoruba textile known for its intricate geometric patterns and cultural significance, particularly among the Ijebu subgroup. The term "Aso Olona" translates to "cloth with patterns" in the Yoruba language. Aso Olona is an handwoven fabrics that can come with motifs like the chameleon.