Yoruba Chief's Riga (Gown), Wando (Pants), and Slippers (Early 1900s)
Cultural heritage of nigeria
design Details
Man's Riga (Gown), Wando (Pants), and Slippers
Hausa People
Early 1900s
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hausa chief's tobe (gown)
Class: Gown
Dimensions: W 94 1/8 In. x H 50 In. (239 cm x 127 cm)
Medium: Cotton, fringed flax, recycled mirror beads, and pailettes
Descriptions: The tobe is a wide, loose-fitting gown traditionally worn by Hausa men. It is designed for comfort in the Sahelian climate and for expressing status, identity, and craftsmanship. The garment is typically worn over trousers with a cap. It is usually made from handwoven cotton cloth, often dyed with indigo, which gives the deep blue color seen in the British Museum example. Indigo dyeing is culturally important among Hausa communities and associated with prestige and protection. Embroidery is done by hand and includes geometric and symbolic motifs
yoruba chief's wando
Class: Pants
Dimensions: Circumference 160 in. (appoximately 80" width)
Medium: Cotton, Wool, and Dye
Descriptions: This Wando is a traditional pair of men’s trousers worn by the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria, often as part of a complete outfit with a bùbá (top) and agbádá or dàndógó. It is made from handwoven and resist-dyed cloth, showing the high level of textile skill and aesthetic sophistication in Yoruba culture. The ethnic motifs often symbolize order, balance, and continuity, reflecting Yoruba ideas about harmony between the physical and spiritual worlds.
(Source: The MET Museum Website)
yoruba chief's slippers
Class: Shoes
Dimensions: W 4 1/8 In. x H 10 3/4 In. (10.48 cm x 27.31 cm)
Medium: Glass Beads and Leather
Descriptions: This chief’s slippers are ceremonial footwear associated with West African leadership, likely from a Yoruba or neighboring court tradition. Such slippers were worn by chiefs or titled elites during public appearances, rituals, and important ceremonies, serving as visible markers of authority and rank. They are made from leather soles with richly beaded uppers, using glass beads arranged in dense geometric and linear patterns. The patterns and colors are symbolic rather than purely decorative: geometric motifs suggest order, stability, and control, while repeated lines emphasize continuity and leadership.
(Source: Bowers Museum Website)