Edited by Azizi Poqwll
This is Part I of two part pancocojams about filas, red ozos, kufis, aboki cap, and some other names for traditional Nigerian male caps.
Part I presents information about filas, red ozos, kufis, aboki caps, and some traditional male caps that are worn in parts of Nigeria, West Africa. These featured head caps are also worn in some other parts of Africa, and elsewhere around the world.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/11/filas-red-ozos-kufis-and-some-other.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases two YouTube videos demonstrating how to wear various traditional Nigerian caps. Part II also showcases a few YouTube videos of Nigerian weddings with special attention to the traditional caps and other attire that is worn by males.
The content of this post is presented for cultural and educational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/11/five-videos-of-nigerian-master-drummer.html for a closely related pancocojams post entitled "Five Videos Of Nigerian Master Drummer Olatunji & His Drums Of Passion Band (with a focus on traditional African caps worn by men)". The Addendum to that post features a YouTube video of how kube hats are made. The summary to that video indicates that those hats are predominately worn by Hausas.
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EXCERPTS ABOUT FILAS, RED OZOS, KUFIS, ABOKI CAPS, AND SOME OTHER NAMES FOR TRADITIONAL NIGERIAN MALE CAPS
These articles and their selected comments are given in no particular order, and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Excerpt #1:
From https://guardian.ng/life/types-of-native-caps-among-yorubas-and-their-importance/ "3 Yoruba Native Caps You Should Know About" BY MODUPEOLUWA ADEKANYE, 26 JULY 2019
"Fashion is constantly evolving, however, native caps are still the same as they were many years ago.
In Nigeria, traditional fashion styles are not complete without a matching cap. It is a unique part of the outfit that makes every man wearing native looks dashing.
In addition, Yoruba native caps are popularly known as ‘Fila’ which is the Yoruba name for the cap.
Yoruba caps are made of different types of material. They are mostly sewn or handwoven from Aso Oke fabric, velvet, cotton or damask. Yoruba caps are worn as head attire to complement native attires such as Agbada, different types of Ankara designs, etc.
The first important thing to note when using the native cap is that it must match other clothing you are putting on.
Also, wearing your cap to the right shows you are married, if left, it means you are single.
There are different types of Native caps:
Abeti Aja
This cap, Abeti Aja”, means “like the ears of a dog”. This style of Yoruba cap looks like a triangle with two edges sticking out like the ears of a dog. This style is common among both young and old Yoruba men. Also, some traditional Yoruba drummers like to wear this style. You can wear this style of Yoruba cap and change the position of the edges: they can be pointed upwards, or a bit folded.
Gobi style
In addition, this is the most common style of Yoruba cap these days. Before buying one, make sure that it fits your head properly. You can fold this any way you like. You can fold it on the right or on the left, a bit on the front part or a bit to the back.
Lastly, Kufi style is very common among Yoruba Muslims and also royal people. It is usually worn on dashiki lace style."
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Excerpt #2:
From https://www.quora.com/Is-the-Yoruba-f%C3%ACla-g%E1%BB%8Dbi-worn-to-the-left-or-right-culturally-indicative-of-the-marital-status-of-Yoruba-men
[comment]
Olukayode Adégòke, Teaching Assistant at University of Lethbridge
Answered Apr 1, 2018
..."There are different style of Yoruba traditional cap.
Abèti aja - made with asọ oke or sányán and common amongst older men, royalties, elite perhaps.
ẹtu- usualy made from aso oke too, with little or no embroidery and can be tilted to either side depending on preferences. Its variance is Fila ọdẹ
Gọbi - Also made from Asọ okè or sànyàn and mostly are without embroidery so it can have the filling and soft on the edge and readily easy to be tilted either way, even in front. Actually ẹtu is the name of the cap and the tilting is what is referred to as gọbi, hence you hear; “he wears his fila in the gọbi style". Gọbi is therefore the style with which the cap is worn.
The marriage attribution is largely new and recents with all these alaga iduro phenomena at yoruba weddings just finding a way to spice up the whole ceremony by asking the groom to to tilt his cap to the left immediately his dowry is accepted just to signify he is now married and his new spouse heart at his left. A form of symbolism of the heart at the left."
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Excerpt #3
From https://newafrikan77.wordpress.com/2018/02/07/the-truth-behind-the-igbo-red-cap-red-ozo-ichie-okpu-ogbuefis-opu-meaning-and-sacred-tradition/ "The Truth Behind The Igbo Red Cap ( Red Ozo , Ichie Okpu, Ogbuefis, Opu ) Meaning And Sacred Tradition" Posted by newafrikan77Feb 2018
"In Igboland the red is for chiefs, while ordinary person can wear black, brown, green or white.” It is often called the Red Ozo or Ichie Okpu.
Ugo (Eagle) feather on the their traditional cap shows that they are the cream of society because the Eagle in Igboland is seen as the most beautiful bird, therefore it is believed to be the cream of society.
The red cap is from Nri (‘the land of the ideal manifestation’) and was given to the Ozo (meaning ‘saviours’) and Nze (apprentice Ozo) who were ‘peace warriors’ that went on spiritual missions (ifu ije or gbata ọsọ) across Igboland. The red symbolises fire and fire Agbala, which is the ‘holy spirit’. The red cap signifies that the Ozo and Nze are agents of Agbala. The ozo sects also acts as a ‘parliament’ from which the Eze Nri is selected.
[...]
The ‘red cap’ worn by chiefs in Igboland symbolizes authority, tradition, and culture; and it also represents the entire institution of leadership, authority, and power in Igbo culture.
Putting on the red cap is not an all-comers affair in Igboland as there are always a select number of individuals who are entitled to wear this special cap (especially with eagle feather which in its own right signifies prominence).
[...]
The wearers of the Igbo red cap are usually men who have fulfilled certain obligations and maintained the standards laid down in their various communities.
They are recognized in the different communities in Igboland by names such as ‘Nzes’, ‘Ichies’, ‘Ozos’, ‘Ogbuefis’ and others.; who are not expected to misrepresent, cheat or enroll in any project that can lead the traditional formation into disrepute.
Although it has become common practice nowadays, especially in large cities outside the Igboland, to see a lot of Igbo men indiscriminately putting on the Igbo traditional red cap, without fulfilling the conditions and earning the entitlement to do so, custodians of the custom and stakeholders are bemoaning the planned and continued misuse of the Igbo cap and the whole Igbo chieftaincy formation in common.
Nwosu Ibe, The Ezendigbo of Abuja, once said that the Igbo cap was not allowed be worn by everyone, noticing that it should only be worn by those people who were permitted by the fellowship to put it on.
[...].
Mr. Ibe reiterated that it was offensive for people to put on the ‘red cap’ indiscriminately, describing those who flouted the cultural norms as people with no reason of value.
‘It is lamentable that these days, many fake people get Igbo cap titles through the back door and some even put on the cap without receiving it traditionally from anybody. And such people show themselves as titled men and chiefs. Sometimes even those men who are not recognized in the Igbo land at all or by their own communities, still wear Igbo cap, but on their own volition, however, this is a total taboo’.
Different cultural experts often stress the need to preserve such sanctity of the ‘Igbo cap’ in their morals and ethos. They say that this cap has been a real symbolic feature of the rich Igbo culture over hundreds of years and it should be saved according to all the rules and traditions."...
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Excerpt #4
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kufi#Etymology
Kufi: Etymology
"In the Yoruba language, Ade means crown, and fila means cap. The city of Kufi is located in Yorubaland near Ibadan. Other West African names include fula, fila, and malo hat.[3] This cap is called a kofia in the Swahili language of East Africa [4] (see the kanzu article for further information). In the United States, the West African name, kufi, is most commonly used."
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Excerpt #5
From https://www.yourdictionary.com/kufi
"kufi ku·fi
noun
ku·fis
1. Any of various styles of brimless hats and caps traditionally worn by Muslim men, especially a crocheted or knit skullcap.
2. A brimless cylindrical hat traditionally worn by West African men.
Origin of kufi
Ultimately from Arabic kūfīya keffiyeh ; see keffiyeh
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Excerpt #6:
From https://classroom.synonym.com/is-the-kufi-necessary-for-islamic-worship-12087761.html "Is the Kufi Necessary for Islamic Worship?" By Jennifer Spirko ; Updated September 29, 2017
"A kufi is a round, brimless hat widely seen among African men and their descendants around the world and in parts of Asia. These round caps are nearly flat on top with slightly domed, high sides; in parts of Africa, they are highly decorated and reflect the wearer’s status. Because they are so indelibly linked to the wearer’s culture, they have become associated with traditional Muslim dress. Wearing a kufi is not, however, required for Islamic worship or prayer.
[...]
Gender Distinctiveness
Although head covering is not mandatory, the kufi may serve an important function in helping a Muslim man to obey wardrobe requirements in other ways. Islamic law requires men to dress distinctively from women.The kufi is a traditionally male accessory, visibly different from a woman’s headscarf or wrap.
Cultural Distinctiveness
Islamic law also calls for Muslims to dress distinctively from unbelievers. This is another way in which a kufi may be important, if not mandatory, for Muslim men. The cap has become so prevalent among African Muslim populations that it has come to signify Muslim identity at least as much as African identity. It is widely popular among Asian Muslim populations as well; cab driver Raja Awais Naeem, who is of Pakistani origin, sued the city of St. Louis in 2012 for not being allowed to wear his kufi on the job. Indeed, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, in its “Employer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” includes the kufi as one of the garments important to many Muslims.
Optional Garments
The kufi is permitted, even encouraged, by Islamic law and custom, but it is not mandatory. Islamic scholars record a number of important precedents for early Muslim leaders wearing a kufi, including Anas Bin Malik, Rasulullah and Wabisah. Other garments may also fulfill the requirements of gender and cultural distinctiveness, such as a turban and thowb (a long shirt). None of these, however, is specifically required during prayer or worship."
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Excerpt #7:
From https://www.dejiandkola.com/how-to-wear-hausa-fulani-aboki-cap-fula
"How to wear Hausa-fulani aboki cap & Hat (FULA)
"It is believed that one’s tribe can say a lot about a person. In some cases, when people are asked to introduce themselves, their tribe is the first thing they reveal. Hausa tribe happens to be one of the popular Nigerian tribes and the Hausa/aboki cap also called the FULA is an item of clothing that traditionally represents the history of the tribe.
This hat displays a rich cultural significance for many African people. not only is it worn to protect the wearer from the harsh rays of the sun, but is also a symbol of wealth and status. During festivals Fulani men will wear these hats as way to attract women. Made from leather and fiber, each hat is embellished with cowrie shells and to other typical Fulani adornments. Each hat is hand-made by the people of Mali, West Africa
Wearing Hausa traditional cap
We will start with the President of Nigeria, who by the way can rarely be seen without his Fula. President Muhammadu Buhari always sports his traditional cap and has been seen at numerous events wearing it with a Babn Riga. Traditional Hausa cap is a must-have for traditional weddings in Hausa land.
Hausa men always keep it fashionable. This handsome man below puts on his best traditional wear in all white with golden-green embroidery and a matching Fula to top it off. This is how to wear the Hausa cap.
Let us stop for a moment and admire the detail on this Fula! This is one of the many reasons to love Fulas, besides the variety of colors, they have unique embroidered designs. This man chose to not wear the Babban Riga on this day. However, that did not stop him from pairing his traditional attire with a multicolored Fula.
Regardless of the fact that the Babban Riga is popularly paired with the Fula, it is not totally compulsory that they are worn together. If one desires, he can wear the Babban Riga without the Fula or pair your Fula with some other traditional attire. Nowadays men are becoming more fashion creative in their style of dressing, pairing their Fula with Ankara and other traditional attires. With this few hints, we hope to have taught you a bit on how to wear the Hausa aboki cap (FULA). “...
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Excerpt #8
From https://www.konga.com/product/hula-hausa-cap-aboki-cap-fila-tangaran-4271781
"This High quality Hausa Aboki Cap is suitable for all Nigerian, Nigerian and Chadian native dresses. It is produce in Nothern part of Nigeria. It is beautifully handcrafted, The caps are traditionally made from strips of elaborately embroidered cloth that are perfectly knitted together. It also known as Tangaran Cap .The designs are usually made of lines and shapes which often symbolizes important events and occasions. the cap is evergreen it does not fade and has never gone out of fashion in Nigeria."
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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.
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