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University of Notre Dame
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Babban Riga (Great Gown)

Date

early to mid-20th century

Creator

Unrecorded Hausa artist

Location

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

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.

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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.
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  • 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.
  • 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.
Unrecorded Hausa artist
early to mid-20th century
Apparel and Adornments
Indigo-dyed hand-woven cotton, cotton thread
1985.062
Hausa
Nigerian
robes
Not on view, please request access
47 1/2 x 101 in. (120.65 x 256.54 cm)
Art Purchases Fund

Our collection information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. If you have spotted an error, please contact Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at RMMACollections@nd.edu.