Ukara cloth
traditional textile of the Igbo people
Ukara cloth , commonly known as Ukara Igbo cloth or Ukara-Igbo, is a traditional indigo-dyed textile made by the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. The cloth is distinguished by its deep blue surface decorated with white Nsibidi symbols, geometric patterns, and stylised representations of animals and plants. It is traditionally associated with the Ekpe society, where it is worn by initiated members and used as ceremonial regalia, while also serving as a symbol of rank, authority and identity.
In addition to its use among the Igbo, Ukara is also used by the Efik, Ejagham (Ekoi), Ibibio, Oron and other communities of the Cross River region, as well as in parts of western Cameroon where the Ekpe institution is practised. Ukara is traditionally worn as a wrapper by high-ranking members of the Ekpe society. It is also used as a backdrop in the throne rooms of chiefs and kings. Its motifs serve as a coded means of communication among members of the Ekpe society.
History
Ukara has traditionally been produced through a combination of weaving, stitching and indigo dyeing. Earlier accounts identify Abakaliki as one of the main centres of its production. The cloth was woven by men, while craftsmen from Ohafia, Abiriba and Arochukwu prepared its decorative patterns.
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This entry incorporates text from “Ukara cloth” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.