A male ruler or a member of a Hausa royal court wore this gown as a visual sign of his status and connection to the Muslim communities of Nigeria. The weaving of cloth, the design and tailoring of the garment, and the intricate embroidery are the result of months of work by several people. Some of the designs are local charms, but others derive from the greater Muslim world surrounding the Sahara Desert. For example, one of the patterns around the neck resembles the popular aska takwas ("eight knives") meant to provide symbolic protection.