asooke

Where does the word "asooke" come from? It comes from Yoruba aso ilu oke, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Asooke’s story begins in Yoruba: aso ilu oke meant “cloth from the upcountry region.” Literally "cloth of the people from the hinterland", shortened over time to aso oke. It reached English by 1900s as aso oke. Worn at Nigerian weddings and festivals, often in matching colours chosen by the families ('aso ebi'). Today, asooke means a prestigious hand-woven cloth of the Yoruba people, worn at weddings and other formal occasions.

1. Stage 1 · Yoruba · 1800s aso ilu oke "cloth from the upcountry region", literally "cloth of the people from the hinterland", shortened over time to aso oke.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1900s aso oke "hand-woven ceremonial Yoruba cloth", worn at Nigerian weddings and festivals, often in matching colours chosen by the families ('aso ebi').