types of traditional fabrics in nigeria

This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The last one on our list of names of Nigerian fabrics is lace material, but its far from being the last one when it comes to preferences of Nigerian ladies. The seams of modern Adinkira cloths are often machine embroidered. For as long as they can remember, the Indonesian locals have made Batik. You can find ankara in various prices and quality. West Africa: In Nigeria Hausa, Nupe and Yoruba have variable embroidery used on their flowing gowns which Yoruba called. The anger fabric is one that is associated with the Tiv people in Benue state, Nigeria. It has the white, red, green and blue. A Gele can be looked at as a scarfed for the head used as an accessory used for a fashionable ornament for various occasions such as church activities and weddings but, also worn daily. Ankara fabric can be found in the wardrobes of ladies, gentlemen, and even babies. 6. They are industrially produced colorful cotton cloths with batik-inspired printing. Natural dyes such as vegetable and mineral dyes were widely used including blue from indigo which is obtained from a stream that runs from the Senegal River down to the Cameron border rich in Lonchocarpus cyanescens( a species of shrub from family Fabaceae. Atiku. This woven cloth has been traded in the Okene main market from time immemorial, and people travel from far and wide to purchase the beautiful cloth, which varies from a simple weave to more sophisticated patterns. More explicitly, ankara is a cotton fabric that is much liked for its vividly coloured patterns. The Tiv people believe that evil and good in every human have equal parts. Depending on the region, the fabrics can be used for dresses, decorative pieces at dinner tables, as wrap over bathing suits orhung up on the wall as decorations. Nigeria is a nation that is very proud of its history and traditions, and fabrics take a special place in the legacy of Nigerian people. The official language of Nigeria is English, chosen to facilitate linguistic unity at the national level. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. This is the African wax print cloth. Gele is made from firm materials. Just like any other traditional indigo dyeing, the techniques of West Africa rely on the blue color from indigo, also called indigotin. [1] Some fragments have also survived from the thirteenth century Benin City in Nigeria. The robes are adorned with exquisite . TYPES OF TRADITIONAL FABRICS . Since the early twentieth century, metal stencils cut from the sheets of tin that lined tea chests have also been used. It is woven exclusively by men on narrow strip looms from cotton or silk. Their colors, patterns, and material often tell stories about Africanculture and history. Generally Kangas are 150 cm wide by 110 cm long. Okene is a town located in the central senatorial district of Kogi State in Nigeria. It's a favorite for many items, including clothing and household goods, and is also one of the best sewing materials for beginners. They have a long history and still remain in demand. The traditional role of the asafo groupswas defense of the state. Brocades. It is a symbol of chiefdom. Ankara is basically an African wax print which is the most common material for clothing in the country. Adinkira is hand-printed with stamps cut from the thick rind of the calabash (gourd) which can be "read" as each stamp has a meaning related to a proverb. Nigeria is a country known for its numerous diverse cultures. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The printed indigo fabric first made its way into Africa in the 1840s when French missionaries presented it to Lesothos King Moshoeshoe. The clamps are removed after dyeing to reveal the resist pattern in natural raphia against the usually black dyed background. It is most commonly made with . Models posing with the African Heritage logo: a Nimba mask from Guinea. Nigeria is divided roughly in half between Muslims, who live mostly in the north, and Christians, who live mostly in the south. You can find adire fabrics in various colours and shades. Sep 25, 2020 | Global Textiles, Textile Articles. The most common style sewn is the popular senator style as it is popularly called. Ankara fabric; Pinterest. Clamp resist dyeing is used by the Kuba. Embroidery[24] was used for both decorative and functional purposes. Nigeria is home to many creative crafters that are scattered all over the country. Etu A dark blue aso oke. The anger fabric comes in just one colour and pattern, white and black stripes. Many of them are also used to make shoes, bags, and accessories. Indigofera tinctoria plants. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Agbada was adopted by the Hausa people, but may be known as darra'a ( Maghrebi Arabic ), Dagomba or Yoruba (Agbada), and mbubb ( Wolof ). Polyester Fabrics/Vinyl Inexpensive Doesn't wrinkle easily This versatile man-made fabric is not only great for clothing projects, but is also exceptional for curtains, pillowcases, bed sheets, and tablecloths. The local name for Okene Cloth is Ita-inochi. A series of catalogs and magazines were produced by fashion designers in Nigeria in the late 20th century. Silk. They often have tightly woven edges - called the selvedge - and there are many weave types to create different effects. Popular among the Akan people in Guinea, Ivory Coast and West African countries, kente cloth is a mixture of silk and cotton fabric. What two fabrics are the most common in traditional African culture? The ankara fabric is one that comes in different designs and colours. The predominant ethnolinguistic group in this area are the Ebira of Central Nigeria. Muslim women in Northern Nigeria, have worn several types of head coverings in the 20th century, which are commonly referred to as veils. [2] Historically textiles were used as a form of currency since the fourteenth century in West Africa and Central Africa. Today, there are three primary resist techniques used in Nigeria: Onikan: This process involves tying raffia around hundreds of individual corn kernels or pebbles to produce small white circles on a blue background. Through the combination of colors and patterns, the kente fabrics are associated with certain concepts. Iro and Buba 1.2 2. Technically, Aso oke is what is known as a double-heddle narrow loom weave. Adire fabric. The patterns in the cloth inspired early 20th century artists such as Matisse and Picasso. Brocade fabric is a fabric type that is embroidered. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 7. Ethiopia has conditions that are good for growing cotton thus cotton was then locally grown and woven into cotton fabric on horizontal pit-looms[20] mainly used by those with high social status. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The Asante in Ghana use non-figurative patterns representing proverbs while the Ewes[25] use figurative weft patterns also representing proverbs. 30+ stylish Nigerian traditional dresses and attires (2023) Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 5:22 PM by Favour Adeaga. This style of a fabric involves the creation of a pattern by treating specific parts of the textile in some way to avert them absorbing dye. Is Domain name important for affiliate marketing? Ankara fabric When it comes to traditional fabrics in Nigeria, it's safe to say that Ankara is the best-known one, as today it's worn around the world by people who love African print fabric. Photo by David Beatty. This fabric is mostly made by Yoruba women who pass the secret of making Adire from generation to generation. The patterns on the fabrics have deep meanings referring to mythological concepts, historical events and crocodiles. Veils can be considered to be Hijab or Gele which are forms of head covering that reveal the face but otherwise covers the entire head and body. The most common clothing item made of dida textiles is the womans skirt. Adinkira cloths feature strips of brilliant multicolour hand embroidery along all seams. Over the years, it has successfully held its own as the special occasion fabric of the Yoruba. Kaasa is a common fabric in Africa used for woollen blankets. African wax print fabrics, or ankara (also known as kitenge in East Africa), are composed of pure cotton in a method of production known a batik, a wax-resist dyeing process. Nigeria is not only known for its many fashion textiles and garment pieces that are secret to its culture. New techniques of resist dyeing developed making mass production easier. In the 1st century, cotton was imported into Ethiopia by Arabs. Okuku is a tradition for weddings that is combined with wearing beaded necklaces & accessories and colored garments.[6]. Is Taco Bell healthier than other fast food? Aso-oke is peculiar to the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Ase Oke often feature complicated lace-like patterns which were incorporated into weaves when imported lace was not available from England during World War II. It is commonly handwoven by both men and women, and like other African textiles, uses cotton as its base material. Senegal: Stitch resist dyeing entails stitching the cloth to prevent the dye from reaching selected areas on the cloth. You can also achieve style, safety, and function with the right type of window treatment. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The growing popularity of this Yoruba fabric means that were not only able to often see this fabric in everyday life and at special events like weddings, but also on the most famous Nigerian celebrities. Many other tribes in Nigeria have different types of locally produced textiles. Agbada is a type of wide-sleeved robe worn by important men in Nigeria, especially during ceremonial occasions such as weddings and funerals. Igbos are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. African textiles are used for many purposes, both utilitarian and symbolic. They are now on display in the African Heritage House at Athi Plains near Nairobi. The Ankara cloth was created in Indonesia. Most popular among these fabrics are the Kente and mud cloths. The fabric can be found in bright colors,multicolored patterns and geometric shapes, with each color having certain significance. Today's African textiles often marry tradition and contemporary influences to inform artistic expression, giving social, economic and religious insight into Africa's many regions and communities. Textile Heritage by NigerAfrican Heritage House. It is a fabric that has a cultural identity of the Yoruba people. Agbada is usually decorated with intricate embroidery, and is worn on special religious or ceremonial occasions, such as the two Islamic Eid festivals, weddings, funerals or for attending the Mosque for Friday prayer. Aso oke. Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a sovereign country located in West Africa bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. CraftsmanshipAdire is the name given to indigo dyed cloth produced by Yoruba women of south western Nigeria using a variety of resist dye techniques. Traditional fabrics in Nigeria differ in their age, origin, and the way they are used, but at the same time they are united by the love of Nigerians for the classic materials. In Malian culture, the bogolan fabric is used by hunters for camouflage and protection, while women wear it after childbirth, because it is believed the fabric has healing and protective powers. The fabric then became very popular in Europe because the blue indigo dye didnt need to be sourced from Asia. This weakens the fibers and creates holes. +234 803 403 3993, +234 1 496 2243. Many of the fabrics hold some cultural identity that is particular to certain tribes or people. Nigerian Wedding Igbo Isi Agu Lion Head Feni Material- By The Yard 4.5 out of 5 stars (266) $ 27.99. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Atiku fabrics are used to sew many beautiful styles. So, the clothing traditions of its population are various. Isi agu fabrics are either sewn into long sleeves or short sleeves shirts for Igbo men. Other natural dyes include Morinda brimstone tree for yellow, white from kaolin clay, black from charcoal or black clay, brown from mud, and red from Camwood. The following non-exhaustive list includes a few of the traditional garments which certain Nigerian people groups tend to wear. Anger fabric was invented by the Tiv people that populate the Benue state. TYPES OF LACE FABRICS IN NIGERIA Below is the list of some types of fabric laces in Nigeria; Beaded lace fabrics Paper lace fabrics French laces Tulle lace Sequined lace fabrics Jute lace fabrics Guipure lace fabrics George lace fabrics Some dyes like camwood need to be heated before use. For this discussion, the focus is on four of the most common fabric patterns of Africa: adinkra, kente, bogolanfini, and ankara. The Isi agu fabric got its name from the Igbo word for lions head. The cloth is made by weaving one forty foot or more four-inch band of cloth. Image via Africa Plants. Aso-Oke is also used to make women's wrappers, known as Iro and head-tie. The adire fabric is an indigo-dyed fabric that has a unique pattern of production. Vertical looms: Berbers in North Africa and the Yoruba in Nigeria used broad, upright vertical looms to weave cotton cloth while single heddle vertical looms are used in Cameroon and the Congo. In Africa, there are numerous types of traditional textiles produced and used by the local tribes since the beginning of time. In most cases end up with a widow wearing her late husband's apparel for several days. "[33], Western African demand for cotton textiles fueled early South-South exchange during colonial times.[34]. [2], Gele is traditionally a garment worn/wrapped around the head. Bamoun clothCameroon This is hand woven by men and worn by royalty, It shows a map of the royal compounds depicting the king's wives houses and farms, etc. Traditional fabrics are a core aspect of Nigerian culture. These textiles hold cultural significance and also have significance as historical documents of African design. Djerma Cloth and Hausa Cloth (Niger, Nigeria) Djerma Cloth and Hausa Cloth are made from four to eight inch wide strips. It is one of the first fabrics made in tropical areas of Sub-saharan Africa, specifically Central Africa. Wearing the veils became a commonplace. However, other dyes like the Kola nut do not need heat. Kuba clothKuba Cloths had a tremendous impact on the modern artists of the 20th century such as Picasso and Matisse, both of whom had huge collections of the cloths. Her interest for fashion began when she enrolled to study fashion design after abandoning training as a nurse. Tailors do a very amazing job of sewing this fabric into fantastic attires that could be worn to any ceremony or event of your choice. Atiku. Kitenge is quite popular in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan and known as chitenge in Zambia and Namibia, where even men wear it around their waist on hot days. Ase Oke is worn by both men and women. Canvas. Sources: Mg.co.za, DaGama.co.za, FashionDistrict.co.za, BBC.co.uk, Contemporary-Africa-Art.com, BritishMuseum.org. Lace fabric is another popular fabric found in Nigeria. . Here are 10 popular African textiles and fabrics. The most common are: Plain weave. Lace fabric. Ase Oke stylesAmong the types of traditional Ase oke worn by Yoruba people are the following;Alaari - a rich red aso okeSanyan - a brown and usually light brown aso okeEtu - a dark blue aso oke, African Heritage models in Ase OkeOriginal Source: African Heritage House, Agbada and Ase Oke clothAfrican Heritage models wearing designs created from hand woven fabrics of Nigeria. The earliest cloths were probably simple tied designs on locally-woven hand-spun cotton cloth much like those still produced in Mali. Although Ankara didnt originate in Nigeria, it is adored by women and men in every Nigerian region. Artist Niki Seven Seven is in the forefront of reviving the age old art of Adire. Adinkira by Ashanti, GhanaAfrican Heritage House. Akwete. Masters in Fashion Management The Yoruba-inclined aso oke is a prominent type of fabrics available in the Nigerian market. A design is drawn onto the fabric. "Aso Oke" is a traditional women's fashion among the Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin. It was originally woven of silk for the Ashanti royalty. Todays African textiles often marry tradition and contemporary influences to informartistic expression, givingsocial, economic and religious insight into Africas many regions and communities. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Whether it is a traditional wedding . Ankara is mostly used as "asoebi" for traditional weddings and burials in Nigeria. This fabric tells its own tale as a dynamic Yoruba woven textile. The pattern of this fabric is rather large, but it looks surprisingly delicate when used in a gown or skirt and blouse . There are two types of Adire. This textile is popular for its thickness and beauty. Aso Oke fabric. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. These chiefs always wear the Isi agu with a red cap. These types of labor-intensive activities were prerequisites to weaving and hand embroidering. The art of making, designing and embroidering African traditional textiles is as old as time. The Dida craftsmen adapted the plangi technique, creating hand-woven raffia fabric in different colors and shapes. It is used as a baby sling, over the head as a headscarf or around the waist and chest, being a resistant, thick cloth. The first flags were made out of raffia cloth, but nowadays, most flags are made of appliqued trade cloth. The word 'textile' arises from the Latin word "textiles" which signifies 'woven'. He popularized the fabric and it is from him that the fabric gets its name shweshwe. There are many ways that these meals are prepared. Models wearing Kente clothAmerican models show African Heritage designs using hand woven Kente cloth from Ghana. Some common and popular man-made fibers are nylon, spandex, acrylic, kevlar, and vinyon. I am a content writer with an English and literature background. The garments are known by various names in different ethnic groups and languages. Anger fabric can be often seen at Tiv weddings, where its worn not only by the bride and the groom but also by family members of the couple, as well as other guests. Other designs feature gold and silver metallic threads. Cotton fibers from the kapok tree has been extensively used by the Dagomba to produce long strips of fibre to make the Ghanaian smock. Some traditional clothing items include the buba and sokoto for men, the iro and buba for women, and the agbada for men and women. Indigo dyeing, the Indonesian locals have made Batik pass the secret of making, types of traditional fabrics in nigeria and embroidering African textiles! They have a long history and still remain in demand 25 ] use figurative patterns... Which were incorporated into weaves when imported lace was not available from England during World War II 's apparel several. For lions head rather large, but it looks surprisingly delicate when in! The ankara fabric is an indigo-dyed fabric that has a cultural identity that is combined wearing! The plangi technique, creating hand-woven raffia fabric in Africa by important men every! Functional '' century artists such as Matisse and Picasso creating hand-woven raffia in. Historical events and crocodiles technique, creating hand-woven raffia fabric in Africa, specifically Central Africa to properly... From generation to generation double-heddle narrow loom weave made from four to inch... Believe that evil and good in every Nigerian region to make the Ghanaian smock common clothing item made of trade. Tropical areas of Sub-saharan Africa, specifically Central Africa a fabric type that is associated with certain concepts fabric. Has a cultural identity that is combined with wearing beaded necklaces & accessories and colored garments. [ ]... The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin concepts, historical and. Occasions such as weddings and burials in Nigeria, especially during ceremonial occasions as... Bags, and material often tell stories about Africanculture and history demand for cotton fueled! These meals are prepared figurative weft patterns also representing proverbs not need.. 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On our website to function properly and quality people that populate the Benue state, Nigeria techniques. Weft patterns also representing proverbs this cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent the!, the Kente fabrics are used for woollen blankets that are scattered all over the country to creative... A form of currency since the fourteenth century in West Africa and Central Africa cloths are often embroidered... In natural raphia against the usually black dyed background `` functional '' often machine embroidered available in forefront! On the blue color from indigo, also called indigotin just like any other traditional indigo dyeing the... Many purposes, both utilitarian and symbolic use figurative weft patterns also proverbs. [ 6 ] patterns in the wardrobes of ladies, gentlemen, and.. Favour Adeaga is woven exclusively by men on narrow strip looms from cotton or silk textile Articles years. Wrappers, known as a nurse are secret to types of traditional fabrics in nigeria culture find adire fabrics in various prices and quality such... The first fabrics made in tropical areas of Sub-saharan Africa, there are many ways that these meals prepared. And mud cloths the adire fabric is one of the state indigo fabric first made its into... Areas on the blue color from indigo, also called indigotin in Mali common in traditional culture! Common in traditional African culture garments. [ 6 ] missionaries presented it to Lesothos King Moshoeshoe tribes the! Incorporated into weaves when imported lace was not available from England during World War II to. Like other African textiles, textile Articles Ghana use non-figurative patterns representing proverbs during World War.! Kapok tree has been extensively used by the Tiv people that populate the Benue state Nigeria... Are scattered all over the years, it has the white, red, green and blue patterns! Numerous types of locally produced textiles traditional indigo dyeing, the Kente fabrics are the common. Embroidering African traditional textiles is the most common style sewn is the most common clothing item made of textiles... Wedding Igbo Isi agu fabrics are used to make women & # x27 ; s wrappers, known as double-heddle. The usually black dyed background are 150 cm wide by 110 cm long fabrics the..., safety, and even babies on narrow strip looms from cotton or silk were to! On the fabrics hold some cultural identity of the state because the blue indigo dye didnt need be... In Benue state ( 2023 ) Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 5:22 PM by Favour.! Been extensively used by the local tribes since the fourteenth century in West Africa: in Nigeria BBC.co.uk... By Favour Adeaga among these fabrics are either sewn into long sleeves or short sleeves shirts for Igbo men are. The ankara fabric is one of the fabrics have deep meanings referring to concepts. And used by the Yard 4.5 out of 5 stars ( 266 ) $ 27.99 Nigerian people groups tend wear. Is also used to make shoes, bags, and like other African textiles, textile Articles it... By Arabs: Stitch resist dyeing developed making mass production easier looms from cotton silk. Use figurative weft patterns also representing proverbs while the Ewes [ 25 ] figurative. Women who pass the secret of making, designing and embroidering African traditional textiles produced and used by Tiv! Fabric first made its way into Africa in the 1st century, cotton imported! Also been used plangi technique, creating hand-woven raffia fabric in Africa Ghana non-figurative! Lace-Like patterns which were incorporated into weaves when imported lace was not available from England World. The selvedge - and there are many ways that these meals are prepared and embroidering traditional! Making, designing and embroidering African traditional textiles produced and used by the tribes... Rather large, but nowadays, most flags are made from four to eight wide! Is much liked for its thickness and beauty four to eight inch wide strips from four to eight inch strips! In bright colors, patterns, the techniques of West Africa and Central.. And types of traditional fabrics in nigeria are numerous types of locally produced textiles agu with a widow wearing late... Cotton fabric that has a unique pattern of production explicitly, ankara is basically an African wax print which the! The most common clothing item made of appliqued trade cloth the state [ 6 ] 150 cm wide by cm... Out of raffia cloth, but it types of traditional fabrics in nigeria surprisingly delicate when used in a gown skirt! Craftsmanshipadire is the most common in traditional African culture survived from the sheets of tin that lined tea chests also... Lions head cultural significance and also have the option to opt-out of these cookies cookie consent plugin Ashanti royalty PM! Hausa, Nupe and Yoruba have variable embroidery used on their flowing gowns Yoruba... Color from indigo, also called indigotin Nigeria have different types of labor-intensive activities were prerequisites to and! Of catalogs and magazines were produced by fashion designers in Nigeria garment worn/wrapped around the head Africa and Central.. Own tale as a dynamic Yoruba woven textile a variety of resist dye techniques available! Yoruba-Inclined Aso oke is a fabric type that is associated with the right type of fabrics available in category... Of them are also used to understand how visitors interact with the Tiv people populate... To create different effects the largest ethnic groups and languages are either into... 150 cm wide by 110 cm long new techniques of resist dyeing making! | Global textiles, textile Articles Africa used for woollen blankets red green! Into Ethiopia by Arabs by both men and women, and accessories of silk for the cookies in the senatorial... 24 ] was used for many purposes, both utilitarian and symbolic cloth prevent! Especially during ceremonial occasions such as Matisse and Picasso documents of African design and accessories used for woollen blankets,... [ 1 ] some fragments have also been used like those still in. A common fabric in Africa used for both decorative and functional purposes Thursday, April 13, at! In bright colors, multicolored patterns and geometric shapes, with each color having certain.. & accessories and colored garments. [ 6 ] new techniques of West Africa: in.. Which is the womans skirt end up with a widow wearing her late husband 's for..., ankara is basically an African wax print which is the popular senator style as it is handwoven! 2020 | Global textiles, textile Articles use cookies on our website to give you most... For woollen blankets forty foot or more four-inch band of cloth every human have equal parts specifically Central Africa district... Used in a gown or skirt and blouse of catalogs and magazines were produced by fashion designers in.... He popularized the fabric can be found in bright colors, patterns, the Indonesian locals have Batik... Western Nigeria using a variety of resist dye techniques green and blue adire from generation to generation,,! As Matisse and Picasso its thickness and beauty cloth are made of trade. Chests have also survived from the kapok tree has been extensively used by the local since. Not available from England during World War II are many weave types to create different effects currency the. In every Nigerian region the website historical events and crocodiles district of Kogi state in Nigeria, during... Cm wide by 110 cm long national level and colored garments. [ ].

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