A Yoruba man’s cap can be shifted right, left,front, up, or back, yet what does everything mean?
The Yoruba man’s current state of life is symbolized by the Yoruba cap (filà) and its position.
There have been numerous confusions about the significance of the cap (Fila) worn by Yoruba men. A Yoruba researcher on Instagram, Abdulquddus Gbadamosi, shed some light on this.
The man’s head is said to have the shape of the “circle of life,” which runs from right to left, front, and back.
A young boy
His mother tilts his cap to the right when he is dressed for a special occasion because it is a sign of youth that one is just starting out in life.
A young man
The second stage in a man’s life is the point at which he is a young man thriving. His cap would be leaned toward the front.
In Yoruba culture, it is a practice for men of this age to wed, flourish monetarily, nurture their children, and providing for their families. These achievements are exceptionally esteemed and viewed as vital commitments for men at this phase of life.
Elders
The left tilt is for the more older men; At this age, people gradually stop working and start to enjoy life and the fruits of their labor.
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Aged men
This elderly people men wear their cap back to show the end of life and the way that they have lived life.
Kings and royalty
When kings, princes, or other people in positions of authority wear their caps to the right or left In Yoruba culture, their followers are expected to wear their caps in the opposite direction to show respect.
Men of lowly status
The standing cap was known as an Aro. It does not indicate a position and literally means “standing.” This was definitely not a popular method for wearing a cap in Yoruba culture and would just be seen by carefree or second rate citizenry.
The standing cap, or Aro, is also worn by Sango worshipers.
Married and single
The front and back tilting of the cap isn’t so common nowadays; The tilts to the left and right are what we have.
The pervasive belief is that Married men wear their caps to the left, while single men wear theirs to the right. Some may argue that this is not the case because the cap only serves to reveal an individual’s age and social status.
A groom
To discourage potential suitors, a groom must always wear his cap facing the direction of his future spouse’s home while still in the surrounding.
See the video below to learn how to properly wear a Yoruba cap and look perfect