Sanyan: Among the Yoruba this cloth form is regarded as the king of cloths and exemplified in the saying ‘Sanyan baba aso’
(Sanyan is the king of cloths).
The fibre used for making this cloth is obtained from the cocoons of the Anaphe silk worm. The silk fibres are processed; hand spun into silk threads, washed
and soaked in cornstarch. The colour of the silk gives Sanyan a natural beige colour.
This cloth form is particularly associated with chiefs and kings and its use is widespread in Yoruba land. Etu is a unique Yoruba cloth that is dyed repeatedly in traditional indigo blue dye. At intervals, during the dyeing process, the cotton threads are brought out to the sun for proper drying and stretching. Etu is also a prestigious cloth worn mainly as a social dress.
Alaari is a Yoruba cloth form that was originally made from Sanyan dyed in red camwood solution. Today most producers of Alaari use machine spun cotton thread of red colour. According to Lamb and Holms (1980), Alaari is used by
kings and chiefs to receive visitors into their palace while the former cloth forms Mentioned namely, Sanyan and Etu are used for official functions or ceremonies
(for example, harvest festivals, weddings, installation of chiefs).
-Article on Hand woven Yoruba Clothes
-WahabSalamah2
