Object Number: 2003/011/006

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 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. It is made of blue, indigo and white stripped fabric and is manufactured through the traditional narrow strip method, with strips of 95mm hand sewn together. There is white swirling embroidery around the collar and lining on the hem of the gown but nowhere else. These swirling patterns seem to be a more modern take on the traditional dagi (knot) which is often found on kwakwata gowns.