Kikoi

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Kikoy fabric in Nairobi Kikoy fabric at the Maasai Market in Nairobi, Kenya.jpg
Kikoy fabric in Nairobi
Traditional kikoi being worn. Traditional kikooyi.jpg
Traditional kikoi being worn.

A kikoi is a traditional rectangle of woven cloth originating from Africa. Considered a part of Swahili culture, the kikoi is mostly worn by the coastal men, but now also includes the Maasai people of Kenya and men from Tanzania and Zanzibar. It is most commonly viewed a type of sarong. [1]

Contents

Description

The kikoi is made of cotton and patterns are woven rather than dyed into the fabric. [1] As with all sarongs, it is a single piece of cloth which is wrapped around the waist, and rolled over outwards a couple of times. Outside of their intended use as a sarong, they can be used as a sling to hold a baby, towel, or a head wrap.

History

The kikoi emerged from cultural exchange between east Africans and their trading partners from nations like Somalia centuries ago. [2] [3] The kikoi is said to have come to Kenya from Somalia. [4] The city of Barawa was famous for its weaving of kikoi. [5] A type of kikoi was called banadir, a name derived from its origin in the textile centers of Somalia's Banadir coast, a region historically renowned for its textile trade. [6] [7] The garment remains a popular souvenir for tourists visiting Kenya. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 BU African Studies Library (9 December 2019). "African Textile Collection". Storymaps.ArcGIS.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Traditional Kenyan cloth becomes focus of trademark controversy". Reuters. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. ↑ Morris, Bernadine (1987). "Versatility in a Wrap Handmade in Kenya". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  4. ↑ Rabine, Leslie W. (2002). The global circulation of African fashion. Dress, body, culture. London, England: Berg. p. 102. ISBN   978-1-85973-593-0.
  5. ↑ Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji; Castagno, Margaret (2003). Historical dictionary of Somalia. African historical dictionary series. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press. p. 50. ISBN   978-0-8108-6604-1.
  6. ↑ Hansen, Karen Tranberg; Madison, D. Soyini, eds. (2013). African dress: fashion, agency, performance. Dress, body, culture. London: Bloomsbury. pp. 157–158. ISBN   978-0-85785-380-6.
  7. ↑ Njogu, Kimani; Omar, Athman Lali; Twaweza Communications, eds. (2024). Bajuni land, language and orature. Nairobi, Kenya: Twaweza Communications Ltd. p. 161. ISBN   978-9966-128-24-9.
  8. ↑ Perry, Alex. "Nairobi: Finding the Perfect Souvenir". Time. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
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