Robes of the Sokoto Caliphate

Object Details

Author

Kriger, Colleen E

Smithsonian Libraries African Art Index Project DSI

The rigan giwa ("robe of the elephant") is a man's woven robe with a distinctive knife motif embroidered on the breast. Variously attributed to Hausa, Nupe and Yoruba, these robes of honor are spread over northern Nigeria and are closely associated with Islamic political and religious authority. Kriger looks at the history, use and production of these woven, embroidered robes, specifically in Sokoto Caliphate in northwestern Nigeria. In particular, she examines the "two knives" motif and the "eight knives" motif, which are their hallmarks. Based on research for a master's thesis conducted in museums in Europe and North America. Illustrates nineteenth-century examples of these robes from the Museum of Textiles, Toronto, the Museum of Mankind, London, the Royal Museum of Scotland, and Wisbech & Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire.

1988

Call number

N1 .A258

Type

Articles

Smithsonian Libraries

Topic

Hausa riguna

Hausa embroidery motifs

Embroidery, Hausa

Hausa design

Clothing

Decoration and ornament, Hausa

Record ID

siris_sil_534132

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0