Africa's Dress Sense
Destiny Joseph@josephdestiny597391
9 days ago
Ever heard the quote, "How you dress is how you will be addressed"?
Of course dress sense affects the manner with which an individual will be addressed. As Africans our traditional attire sets the precedence for our identity.
African traditional attire represents one of the biggest symbols of our rich cultural heritage and diversity. This lavish display of clothing and style varies from ethnic groups to ethnic groups and each outfit spells the tradition one belongs.
They are mostly worn during special occasions, traditional festivals, and special events. Interestingly, traditional attires can spell out the status of an individual within a cultural context, hence preserving respect and honor.
A quick glance through some beautiful crafted traditional attires across the continent may include:
1. Kente
Kente is a traditional attire native to the Akan tribe in Ghana, in West Africa. This materia is a combination of silk and cotton fabric and carefully interwoven into cloth strips Amazingly, the Akan people and native Ashantis still weave their Kente clothws by hand despite obvious technological advancements in the textile world.
The quality and ingenuity greatly to excels despite being a primitive cloth production method. Dignitaries and the common people across the world wear this dress for occasions and still look elegant and royalty.
This traditional attire comprise of colors like Black, red, Gold, blue, green, grey and silver with each weave into a geometric pattern and carries a unique meaning. Kente has now become a popular trend in the wide world despite planting its root in the soils of Ghana
2. Oro and Buba
This dress trails down to the ancient yoruba kingdom in Nigeria. Popularly called Iro ati Buba, Yoruba women of Nigeria wear this five piece masterpiece staging elegance, style and royalty especially at weddings and traditional festivals.
This five piece attire is made up of the "Iro, a large wrapper tied to fit around the waist." The "Buba" a loose blouse which perfectly matches the color of the Iro. Buba is usually worn on the upper part of the body. "Gele" serves as the head covering and has now become a National anthem among Nigerian women. There is also a short fabric called "Pele" and is tied on top of the Iro around the waist.
3. Shuka
A traditional attire native to the Masai tribe in Kenya and Tanzania. Shuka, popularly know as the African blanket is composed primarily of two colors, red and black, colors seen on the flag of these nations.
4. Habesha Kemis
Common among the natives of Ethiopia and Eritrea, especially among the woman is the Habesha Kemis. This dress made out of cotton fabric is a lightweighted outfit that stretches from the neck to the ankles.
5.Toghu/Atoghu
This attire plants its roots in the Cameroon, specifically among the Bamileke people in the North-western part of Cameroon. Formely worn only by individuals of royal descent, Toghu represented superiority and authority within thier cultural context and is often worn during coronation of dignitaries.
Speaking of design, Toghu is made of black velvety fabric and embroidered with colorful patterns.
Other traditional attire spread across the African continent and their location include:
Agbada - West Africa, Nigeria.
Kanzu - Uganda
Djellaba - Morocco, Tunisia
Dashiki - Ghana
Isiagu - Common with the Igbos, Nigeria
Source: African Vibes
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