# Prestige robe (riga)

- Date: late 1800s–by 1910
- Medium: Cotton, silk, and indigo
- Classification: Garment
- Dimensions: Overall: 120 x 226 cm (47 1/4 x 89 in.)
- Culture: Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, probably Hausa-style or Nupe-style weavers and embroiders
- Credit line: Alma Kroeger Fund
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/2013.6)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2013.6/2013.6_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Elite Nigerian men wore voluminous status garments variously called riga (Hausa), agbádá (Yorùbá), boubou (French), or mbubb (Wolof). Punctuated with white silk, this strip-woven riga’s inky blue was achieved by repeatedly dipping threads into indigo dye before weaving them. Embroiderers were often skilled Arabic calligraphers; the motifs here once had protective Islamic symbolism. The front pocket features the pointed “eight knives” (aska takwas) and a leaf (gambiya) associated with the Nupe peoples. At back, a spiral leads the wearer toward God. Magenta silk imported via trans-Saharan routes lines the hem. Rigan historically held transcultural appeal; today, they are pan-Nigerian male national dress.