A colorful, loose-fitting robe or tunic worn in West Africa, typically made from patterned fabric and worn as a traditional or casual garment.
From Yoruba or other West African languages, the buba represents a garment style with centuries of cultural significance. The word traveled into English through contact with West African cultures and the African diaspora.
The buba demonstrates how fashion is cultural identity—the cloth pattern, the fit, and the way it's worn tells stories about a person's region, status, and heritage in West Africa, making it far more than just clothing.
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