Fulani Yaake Dance Tunic

Embroidered ladders, squares and wavy lines run the whole length of it, with tassels at the hem.

This yaake dance tunic is Fulani, from Niger, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is embroidered cotton and leather. Among the Wodaabe Fulani, the yaake is a well-known dance in which young men display their charm and beauty, and dress is generally an important part of the performance. Here a long narrow tunic of dark indigo cotton is stitched with columns of red, yellow, green and blue embroidery in geometric motifs. White binding edges the V neck and sides. Leather tassels hang from the hem. It is 16 inches wide and 43 long.

Every stitch seems to be practicing for the dance.