Prestige robe (riga)

Elite Nigerian men wore voluminous status garments variously called <em>riga</em> (Hausa), <em>agbádá</em> (Yorùbá), <em>boubou</em> (French), or <em>mbubb</em> (Wolof). Punctuated with white silk, this strip-woven riga’s inky blue was achieved by repeatedly dipping threads into indigo dye before weaving them. Embroiderers were often skilled Arabic calligraphers; the motifs here once had protective Islamic symbolism. The front pocket features the pointed “eight knives” (<em>aska takwas</em>) and a leaf (<em>gambiya</em>) associated with the Nupe peoples. At back, a spiral leads the wearer toward God. Magenta silk imported via trans-Saharan routes lines the hem. Rigan historically held transcultural appeal; today, they are pan-Nigerian male national dress.