Object Number: T/NIGE/576

Collection: British Empire & Commonwealth

Object Name: clothing, headwear

Description: This is a man’s gown from Nigeria. The kwakwata is a gown with two vertical pocket openings at the front, and sleeves that are narrower than those of other large gowns. The decoration is mainly concentrated round the neck and pocket openings. Older examples of kwakwata were made from saki cloth, but gowns such as this are now mostly imported from Bida where they were made from the Nupe. Some Hausa manufacturers still make these types of gown but they now only use machine-sewing techniques to do this as they have become less popular in the region. As they are still popular among the Yoruba people, kwakwata are still handstitched in this region. This gown is made of 110mm strips of fabric which are black/indigo with white and blue vertical stripes, using the narrow strip weaving technique. The gown has been machine-stitched and embroidered. The strips have had panels inserted at the hem in order to create a flare in the skirt, this makes them good for horseback riding. The centrepiece has vertical stripes whereas on the sleeves the fabric has been used so that the lines fall horizontally. There is green embroidery around the collar and extending down the chest of the centrepiece - this sees a repeated motif of a dagi (a knot shape). These dagi patterns are completed with kai which are small looped extensions of the knot. The back of the gown has a single dagi in green embroidery, matching those on the front of the gown. The matching trousers are made of the same fabric and have also been machine-stitched, and they have a solid light blue waistband. The matching hat is also of the same fabric; it is traditionally worn with the earpieces turned up and is styled as an exaggerated head shape.