Plural form of buba, a West African man's garment consisting of a loose, flowing robe or tunic.
From Yoruba 'bùbá', this garment name entered English through contact with West African cultures. The word reflects the traditional clothing of the Yoruba people and other West African groups.
The buba is still worn today at celebrations and formal events across West Africa, and its name traveled through trade routes to become part of English vocabulary—showing how clothing words reveal cultural exchange!
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