Traditional African clothing is very diverse. It usually changes from country to country or tribe to tribe. The designs of folk dresses are very practical. They are made of light fabrics and usually are very loose. Also, they are traditionally made with bright colorful designs and are dyed with a tie-dye or other typically African methods of dyeing the fabric. You won’t confuse African national costumes with any other outfits from any other continent. Here you are several most widespread African garments, often worn far beyond its borders.
There are various patterns and prints, often decorated with embroidery, brocade, and beading to enhance the look.
Popular African folk garments
The grand boubou is a flowing wide-sleeved robe worn mostly by men. It is used for special occasions, like religious rituals and other types of ceremonies. They can even be considered family heirlooms and passed down generation by generation.
The dashiki is a colorful garment worn widely in Africa and even in other places of the world, including America. They can be worn formally or informally. It is a loose-fitting polo that covers the top half of the body and has an ornate V-shaped collar.
The kanga is a wrapped-around wide garment worn by women. It is usually 1.5 x 1 m long and has embroidery all along the edges.
The kufi cap is a brimless, short cap. It is worn by people of the Muslim, Christian, and African Jewish religion. These hats are used to point out wise, eldest, religious people, and family patriarchs.
The wrapper is a colorful women’s costume. There are various forms and designs of this attire. The outfit consists of a blouse, a wrapped skirt, and a headscarf. It is often worn at weddings.
Those are just a few main examples of the many different types of traditional African clothing found throughout Africa. Besides traditional clothes, you can also find the clothing, heavily influenced by America and the West. But if you’re looking for outfits that show real African culture, the traditional clothing is the way to go.
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