Object Number: T/NIGE/555

Collection: British Empire & Commonwealth

Object Name: Clothing

Description: This is a man’s tunic from Nigeria. The tunic is part of a set, where tunics are worn under wide-sleeved gowns and with trousers. They are made in matching sets; however, these sets can be mismatched and sometimes men may choose to wear just the gown and trouser, or just the tunic and trousers. In some case the sets only consist of the tunic and trousers, or the gown and trousers. This sleeveless tunic combines elements of a tunic and gown due to the flare in the skirt, thus it would likely be worn without a gown over it. This tunic is made of handwoven cream cotton with green and red woollen embroidery around the neckline and is from the Fulani region. The gown is made from 60mm strips of fabric, using the narrow strip weaving technique. The strips have been cut on an angle and overlap each other at the top of the garment - this makes the skirt flare out at the bottom — gowns in which the skirt flares out in this way are known as girke gowns. Embroidery on the front resembles an animalistic face-like image within a triangular shape, and on the back, the same triangular outline is used with a line of hanjin rago (ram's intestines) pattern.