women's shirt with Queen Elizabeth II

unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist, artist

women's shirt with Queen Elizabeth II, 1981

Where object was made: Kano, Nigeria

Material/technique: batik; cotton

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 50 x 101.5 cm
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 19 11/16 x 39 15/16 in

Credit line: Gift of Professor Beverly Mack

Accession number: 2011.0239.01

Not on display

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African commemorative cloths are often created to celebrate local community leaders and important politicians, or to mark historic events. These batik cloths commemorate the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II of England’s visit to Nigeria. Made after Nigeria claimed its independence from England in 1960, these cloths symbolize nearly 50 years of colonial rule through the noticeable and repeated use of the Union Jack flag and British crown. Beyond such imagery, a history of colonial relations is embedded in the manufacturing of batik cloth itself. Originally made in Indonesia, these resist-dye patterned cloths were later produced in Europe and sold to western African countries in the 19th century. Colonial powers such as England largely shaped industrialization of batik cloth and its later popularity in African markets.