About African Clothing

Clothing in Africa has largely been influenced by the African climate and the different activities of the people. Additionally, Africa is home to a variety of cultures and tribal groups, which further influence the different types of clothing worn. Some of the more popular African clothing are kaftans, dashikis, kangas and bubas.

African Kaftan

The African kaftan is a long garment normally worn by women. The kaftan can be worn with or without sleeves and can come in a variety of colors or decorative prints. In earlier times, African men wore the kaftan as well.

African Dashiki

The dashiki is a popular men’s shirt that is loose fitting. Sometimes worn by women, the dashiki is available in many different styles ranging from casual to formal. Commonly, the dashiki is waist length however a much longer version is available called the grand boubou.

Kanga

The kanga is an African wrap worn mainly by women and occasionally by men. A kanga consists of a printed cotton fabric measuring 1.5 meters by 1.5 meters. The kanga is decorated with a decorated border on all four sides and inside the border features a different design.

Buba

A buba is an African blouse worn by women. The buba is a fitted shirt with a v-shaped or curved bottom. The buba is suited for both informal and formal occasions. When worn formally the buba is worn with a wrapper or skirt made up of formal fabrics while for informal occasions, the buba is matched with a pants or a print wrapper.