Meaning of agbada | Babel Free

Definitions

A long, flowing robe with wide sleeves worn by men in some parts of West Africa, often decorated with embroidery.

Equivalents

Examples

“Agbada ya li ọrọn ọ bajẹ, "An agbada torn at the neck is spoilt."”

“The Alake [...] tottered along with difficulty under a ponderous robe of scarlet velvet—in shape somewhat like the proctor's at Alma Mater—worn over an Ewu ágbadá or Guinea-fowl pattern of similar shape, but of less gorgeous hue.”

“In Yoruba the dress of an ordinary male Mohammedan consists of trousers, vest (togo), gown (agbada), cap and turban; and takes from 45 to 50 yards per suit, of which he is said to have two or three each year.”

“A big man wearing an agbada with gold thread embroidery at the neck and sleeves came up to him holding a glass of champagne between his thumb and forefinger.”

“If African leaders of the 1940s and 1950s wore suits from Savile Row and Paris as they negotiated with representatives of the colonial powers, the next generation of African leaders wore agbadas and dashikis.”

“I grew up favoring the Igbo embroidered jumper over the loose and voluminous Yoruba agbada and shokoto, for festive and sometimes religious occasions. My main concession to my Yorubaness was the danshiki, itself also a loose top garment, though not as voluminous as the agbada.”

“Over his crisp, white pantaloons and sleeveless tunic he had put on an agbada in his mother's favorite color, yellow, with simple white embroidery that ran around the hem, sleeves and the opening at the neck.”

“According to him [Michael Black], he has recorded more patronage after the media personality [Ebuka Obi-Uchendu] wore the agbada he designed, which helped to elevate his business to the extent where he could afford to gift his wife a car.”

CEFR level