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Folk costume, traditional dress, traditional attire or folk attire, is clothing associated with a particular ethnic group, nation or region, and is an expression of cultural, religious or national identity. If the clothing is that of an ethnic group, it may also be called ethnic clothing or ethnic dress.
Niger President Mamadou Tandja wearing a grand boubou. The boubou or grand boubou is a flowing wide-sleeved robe worn across West Africa, and to a lesser extent in North Africa, related to the dashiki suit. [1] The garments and its variations are known by various names in different ethnic groups and languages.
In Botswana, the fabric is also traditionally associated with brides and married women, but has recently moved into much wider popularity. [19] [20] Aside from traditional wear, shweshwe is used in contemporary South African fashion design for women and men from all ethnic groups, [5] [9] [12] as well as for making accessories and upholstery. [21]
Nelson Mandela in 1998, wearing a Madiba shirt. A Madiba shirt is a loose-fitting silk shirt, usually adorned in a bright and colourful print. It became known in the 1990s, when Nelson Mandela—then elected President of South Africa—added the item to his regular attire.
For instance, the Republic of South Africa is known for the Madiba shirt, whereas Zimbabwe is known for the safari shirt. In the Horn of Africa, the attire varies by country. In Ethiopia, men wear the Ethiopian suit and women wear the habesha kemis. In Somalia, men wear the khamis with a small cap called a koofiyad.
Blue, the color of love, is also a common non-traditional color. [15] Most women wear black kaftans to funerals. [16] However, in some parts of Ghana and the United States, some women wear black-and-white prints, or black and red. The kaftan is the most popular attire for women of African descent throughout the African diaspora.
A large percentage of women in South Africa engage in intra-vaginal product use, i.e. douching, which increases their chances for HIV infection. [30] Maternal mortality is one of the lowest in Africa, although still high by global standards. However, in South Africa, there are conflicting reports on the prevalence of maternal and neonatal ...
The day of departure is marked by intense activity, with young people wearing their finest traditional attire. Inkomo yekususa umtsimba (a cow to send forth the bridal parties) is killed and the meat cooked and eaten. [7] [8] The bride's father and elderly relatives ensure that the meat is correctly allocated among members of the group.