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Agbada is the flowing robe traditionally worn by the Yoruba people across West Africa. It comes with an inner cloth of varying lengths and it also comes with a pair of bottom wear in form of native trousers called Shokoto. It also is worn most times with different caps like fila or abeti aja. Traditional Yoruba beads are often worn with it. The agbada a male attire worn for special events and everyday life, depending on the extravagance of the garment. It is a distinct robe that comes in different styles and designs
Many Agbada are made with aso oke or aso ofi fabric, but they can be made in other different fabrics including adire. Agbada is somewhat similar to the boubou/ babanriga, but is different in looks, style, shape, fabrics and materials used and are quite distinguishable. Agbada usually features native Yoruba embroidery as many times alongside the Grand knot native to the Yoruba culture. Agbada is one of the attires of Yoruba men, alongside others like Gbariye, Sulia, Oyala, Kembe. Gbariye is close in looks to Agbada and many times considered a type of Agbada.
History
Agbada is a four-piece male attire found among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, West Africa.
It consists of a large, free-flowing outer robe (awosoke), an undervest (awotele), a pair of long trousers (sokoto), and a cap (fìla).
The outer robe—from which the entire outfit derives the name Agbada, meaning "voluminous attire"—is a big, loose-fitting, ankle-length garment. In which the centerpiece is usually covered front and back with an elaborated embroidery. Sango is referred to as “Alagbada Ina” that is, (A fire woven Agbada).
Some Other ethnicities in West Africa acculturized Agbada from the Yorubas due to trade. Berber and Arab merchants made their way across the desert to trade salt, cloth, and other manufactured goods in exchange for gold, slaves and other commodities in West Africa during the Trans Saharan trade, this brought the Kaftan or Boubou into West Africa.
References
- Anokam, Stella (2016-07-15). "Latest Agbada Styles with Embroidery Designs for Men (2022)". NaijaGlamWedding. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- Lawal, Babatunde. "Agbada Clothing". LoveToKnow. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- Hanan Hassani. "The Journey of the Moroccan Caftan" (PDF).
- "Kaftan". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2024-03-02.