As you know, Africa is a big and diverse country that accommodates thousand of diverse tribes. Each of these tribes has their own cultures, faith, language, a way of life, and tradition, which means that traditional and cultural African wear differs throughout each country. It is comfortable, unique, and colorful. For example, most of the countries in West Africa have a unique regional dress which is typically made using dyeing, printing, and weaving.

African wear has changed with time. The biggest impact on clothing started in the twentieth century due to trading with Western countries. Initially, Arabs and European influenced African attire usually in the northern areas. Urban societies have usually exposed new western trends to rural areas. Nowadays, many modern Africans wear Western styled shoes and dresses. Others continue to mix new with old.

Not only this, you can spot the European fashion in African clothing as well. African men have started wearing a long-sleeved shirt and full-length trousers. Women have begun to adapt styles from the 19th-century Victorian dress. This style typically involves puffed shoulders, a full skirt, long sleeves, and a colorful bow tied around the waist.

Clothing for Men:

Traditional African clothing for men consists of a big shirt known as "Dashiki" or "Danshiki." It is breathable, very long, and ends several inches above the knees. The sleeves are elbow length. You will find numerous designs and patterns mainly around the neck and near the shirt base. Danshiki is paired typically with old pants known as Sokoto. It’s still in use even today, but are worn with modern pants and jeans. Another traditional item is “Fila”. It’s a cap same as the scarf worn by African ladies. Without this old cap, men wear is considered incomplete.

Clothing for Women:

Traditional African clothing for women typically include Kaftans (Boubou), veils with intricate motifs, blankets, beaded skirts. Kaftans are full length embroidered robes which are usually worn by East African ladies. They come in a wide variety of colors, prints, and styles. Earlier, the ordinary ladies wear a free-flowing kaftan, while royal women like that of queens wear well-fitted ones.

The prints on it are very big and usually include traditional symbols. Old African people used different dye designs for ties and clothes. They typically use extract out of the indigo plant for dyeing clothing. As per history kaftans was choice for West African men at first, but with time they have become an ideal choice among ladies.

Clothing for Special Occasions

African people continue to wear special attire for special events and different African rituals. For example: at womanhood and engagement ceremonies, Kuanyama ladies wear flashy clothes. After it gets over, they wear more beads on their collars and also wear earrings made of brass. Western African women that are getting married wear big elaborate ties on their head.

“Zulus” for South Africa

Zulu people in South Africa wear leopard skinned and bright colored feathers with the feather of bishop adorning their head accessories. Traditional attire for herd boy includes a loincloth, hoops, and beaded necklaces. Unmarried Zulus are known for their dancing and beaded wear which they often do on the festivals and events.