The Oba (King) of Lagos wearing an aso oke hat

Aso oke hat (/ɑːˈʃoʊkeɪ/ ah-SHOH-kay), known as fila in the Yoruba language, is a soft hat traditionally worn by the Yoruba people of Western Africa.[1][2] It is made of hand-woven aso oke fabric, cotton, velvet, or damask. They are usually lined with cotton, but can be unlined if crafted to be worn for a single event.

Although these hats originated amongst the Yoruba in Nigeria they are worn by men of other African ethnicities and of African descent. Worn exclusively by men, the fila fits snugly around the head, and it is commonly worn pushed to one side, resting above the wearer's ear. However, it can be "shaped" in a variety of ways, according to the personal taste of the wearer. It is said by some that fila when worn to the right signifies an unmarried man, while wearing it to the left indicates a married man.

It is commonly worn with Yoruba casual attire and required wearing when dressing formally in an Agbada[1] (also made with aso oke, lace or cotton) or brocade dashiki suits. A notable instance of a fila being worn for a special occasion was actor John Boyega wearing one to the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premiere.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "John Boyega wears traditional dress at Star Wars premiere". The Independent. December 19, 2019. Boyega completed his look by wearing a Fila, a traditional Yoruba cap frequently paired with an Agbada.
  2. ↑ Olanrewaju, Adenike (August 20, 2019). "The Fabric of Nigerian Weddings (Published 2019)" – via NYTimes.com.
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