As a symbol BABADUA means strenght, toughness, resilienty, power and superiority. The babadua tree was used for building fences and thatch roof frames, because it was particularly strong and resilient. In the past, before an asafo (the militia) went to war, it is said that a pile of babadua would be placed on top of a dug-out and a number of the asafo members stood on the pile. If the pile did not break, that signified that they had enough fighting men. The use of this motif at the edge of the woven cloth gives tensile strength to the cloth and prevents unravelling or fraying.
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