Headwraps are a vital part of many cultures, especially in parts of the African region. Headwraps, traditional attire is known or called different names depending on the specific area. For instance, the Yorubas in Nigeria, a country located in West African, call their folded wraps ‘geles’. Apr 24, 2021
Table of Contents
What is an African Gele?
Gele is essentially a type of head tie worn by women in the Western Africa country of Nigeria. In contrast to the head ties worn in some other African countries, like Ghana, Gele is usually rather large and ornate, and as a result, are associated with ceremonial wear rather than day to day usage.
What does wearing a Doek mean?
Southern African women mostly wear doeks as a sign that they are betrothed, married or bereaved. But these are modern cultural innovations and expectations and not an expression of authentic African culture. Jan 31, 2016
How would you describe African fashion?
Opulent designs and colours are emblematic characteristics of African fashion – known for being anything but boring. Historically, prints have always been the focus. These are rooted in tradition, harnessing original, native techniques in their curation, using local artisans.
What is an African woman’s dress called?
The kaftan is the most popular attire for women of African descent throughout the African diaspora. African and African-American women wear a wide variety of dresses, and skirt sets made out of formal fabrics as formal wear. However, the kaftan and wrapper are the two traditional choices.
What is traditional African clothing made of?
Made out of animal skin, fur, feathers and bark cloth, very early African clothing was perhaps not well matched to the usually hot conditions. It is believed that these materials were mainly used in the form of aprons that would have been tied around the waist and robes that were draped across the body.
What are Zulu clothes called?
Zulu men traditionally wear a variety of clothing made from different animal hides. Like married women, married men also have special status. The front coverings for married men, for example, is called “umutsha” and differs from those worn by boys, which are smaller and called “iqoyi”.
What do Zulu girls wear?
She will wear a thick, cowhide skirt which has been softened with animal fat and charcoal. Traditionally, a woman’s breasts would be covered with a cloth, but nowadays a cotton vest or beaded bra is worn with beaded necklaces. One of the most iconic pieces of Zulu clothing is the circular-shaped hats called izicolo. Jul 29, 2018
What is Nigerian clothing called?
Nigerian clothing for women include buba, kaba, iro, gele and iborun or ipele and Nigerian clothing for men include buba, fila, sokoto, abeti-aja and agbada. Other than traditional attire, the people also wear western attires. The ethnic diversity of Nigeria is reflected well in its clothing culture. Aug 5, 2022
What did Africans wear in the past?
The first forms of clothing were bark cloth, furs, skins and hides, and the rest of the body adorned with beautification marks and colour pigments. Males simply wrapped the bark cloth that passed between the legs over a belt. Similarly, women draped the cloth over the belt to hide the front of their bodies.
What is African boubou?
Rabine describes the boubou as: “the classic Senegalese robe, worn by both men and women all over West Africa and in West African diasporic communities of Europe and the United States. Sewn from a single piece of fabric, the boubou is usually 59 inches (150 cm) wide and of varying lengths. Apr 2, 2021
What do men wear in Senegal?
Senegalese people generally wear a boubou in a complete manner. That’s what is called “ grand and complete boubou”. It is a three-piece suit. A tunic, trousers and a boubou which will go on top of the suit. Oct 30, 2015
What did they wear in Timbuktu?
In Timbuktu each ethnic group wears a turban for its history, ancestors, or customs. Meaning is given to every way to wear turbans in Timbuktu. The ceremony of the turban is a highly significant ceremony organized in Timbuktu.
What is a Nigerian head wrap called?
In Nigeria, the head-ties are known as gele (a Yoruba-language word and attire), and can be rather large and elaborate. Although the gele can be worn for day-to-day activities, the elaborate ceremonial ones are worn to weddings, special events, and church activities.
What tribe owns Agbada?
Though popularly associated with the Yoruba tribe, it is not exclusive to us, Agbada is worn all over Africa and is known by different names to the different people who wear it. Oct 27, 2020
Where is Yoruba language originated from?
The Yoruba group is assumed to have developed out of undifferentiated Volta–Niger populations by the 1st millennium BC. Settlements of early Yoruba speakers are assumed to correspond to those found in the wider Niger area from about the 4th century BC, especially at Ife.
Is agbada a Yoruba?
Agbada is a four-piece male attire found among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, West Africa. It consists of a large, free-flowing outer robe (awosoke), an undervest (awotele), a pair of long trousers (sokoto), and a hat (fìla).
What is the traditional clothing in Mali?
During these holidays and festivities, the people of Mali don their finest clothing in celebration. A traditional fabric you will see amongst the clothing is called bogolan. Bogolan is a cloth made from fermented mud, using an ancestral technique of spinning, weaving and dyeing to create its signature print.
Who wears agbada?
men Agbada is a flowing wide-sleeved robe worn by men in much of West Africa, and to a lesser extent in North Africa.
How is clothing important to African culture?
African textiles can be used as historical documents. Cloth can be used to commemorate a certain person, event, and even a political cause. Textile has also been used to convey important cultural information, and often played a central role in festivities and ceremonies.
Resources
https://sonson.com/blogs/dapper-news/the-history-of-headwraps-and-black-culture
https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/opinion-and-analysis/2016-01-31-doeks-mark-of-a-good-woman-or-a-bad-hair-day/
https://www.sikaa.com/blogs/blog/what-make-african-fashion-unique
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrapper_(clothing)
https://www.vukuzenzele.gov.za/celebrating-our-heritage
https://nicharry.com/blogs/blog/traditional-south-african-clothing
https://www.mapsofworld.com/nigeria/culture/clothing.html
https://www.umi1.co.uk/blogs/fashion-style/african-fashion-history-and-future
https://www.custom-qamis.com/en/blog/presentation-du-blog/traditional-dress-of-senegal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_tie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_language
https://womens-fashion.lovetoknow.com/womens-fashion-history/agbada-clothing
https://drinkyamacu.com/blogs/news/mali-culture-history-and-people
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-fabric-of-africa-african-heritage-house/MwURIFA_fBjSIA?hl=en