Combining pre-Islamic cultural values with Islamic-inspired patterns that adhere to Islamic religious conventions, Hausa motifs feature animal imagery, such as fish, snakes, and lizards (Heathcote, 1974b). The medium-sized silk motif on the front and back of the gown may take at least four months to complete, as Hausa embroiderers work on commission. Even though men perform the majority of the embroidery work, women frequently step in to complete projects when men are unable to, and some of the women I met worked on entire gowns. A garment’s embroidery cost can amount to 100,000 Naira, contingent upon the quantity and intricacy of the motifs, which may or may not require a substantial amount of silk threads. The cost of a gown also rises significantly based on the material resources used to empower both the gown and its owner. − two ritual procedures, which include the repeated recitation of Qur’anic verses and formulas by well-known mallamai and the sacrifice of a sheep. Rich symbolic, cultural, and historical meanings are inherent in embroidered patterns, which are the result of both everyday life events and domestic and ritual usage.

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