Men's Weave Cloths from Nigeria and Sierra Leone

The Yoruba are by far the best known and largest group of male weavers in Nigeria. Yoruba aso oke is still worn for ceremonial occasions such as weddings and naming ceremonies throughout south west Nigeria. Today though the subdued palette of pre 1970s cloth has been displaced by shiny metallic lurex and brightly coloured rayon threads. Here we are showing primarily very early and rare pieces, dating from the late C19th and early C20th. Old textiles from Sierra Leone are exceptionally hard to source but often interesting and beautiful.