African Clothing History 101
African clothing in earlier times was not a necessity. In fact, it was so hot, many chose not to wear clothing at all. Instead, in those days, men and women decorated their bodies with painted designs and marked their skin with tattoos. The earliest clothing in Africa was primarily used to cover the intimate areas of the body and was simple in design.
Over time, the people of Africa began to use cloth made of cotton or the fiber of palms to sew together clothes. Initially, cloth was hand-woven, but with time, the weaving looms were used which allowed them to create more stylized patterns. The men wove the fabric and the women decorated it.
Women's mudcloth dress
The most widely-known fabrics are:
- Mud Cloth: this cloth is textured and has brown and beige designs. Mud cloth comes from Mali.
- Kente Cloth: From Ghana, this type of cloth comes in both silk and cotton.
- Tufted Kuba: Cloth: From the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this cloth originates.
Each region of Africa has its own type of cloth that it predominantly uses. Almost all of the styles of the various regions are loose-fitting robe-like garments designed for coolness in the hot weather. Often, African styles resemble the Roman toga. The many toga-like robes can be seen in the various areas. For example, in Nigeria and Senegal, the boubou is popular. In Nigeria, the agbada and riga are worn. And, the dansiki is worn in western Africa. In northern Africa, the Muslim influence is seen in the style of dress.
Like all cultures, Africa was influenced by trade with other nations and the clothing styles reflect that. When traders began to come from other continents, there was an influx of different materials and jewels to use in the clothing designs. New types of beads were brought in and these beads began to decorate the various garments. As more contact with Europeans emerged, they too introduced Western clothing to Africa. Nowadays, it is commonplace to see jeans and t-shirts as often as the traditional African clothes others wear.
Knowing about the origins and evolution of African clothes helps us better understand our heritage and how these dynamic clothes have stood the test of time and are still as beautiful today as they were in yesteryears. The choices are vast when seeking African clothes, and the history only makes the choices more fascinating to make.
