Fashion and Africa go hand in hand. As a consequence of a being a part of a highly multicultural continent of Africa, East African has its own unique identity when it comes to clothing. That uniqueness can be traced back to its very history and the people. Countries that are part of the region include Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Others are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Altogether, 14 countries make up the region.
The Maasai People.
The Maasai people are a Nilotic group found predominantly in Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are one of the more popular indigenous people to foreigners primarily because of their proximity to tourist attractions and their dress.
The Maasai's clothing is very traditional. Not until about the 60s, their wardrobe was still dominated by wears made from sheep and other animal's skin, and calf hides. The Shúkà is a customs dress sheet that can be wrapped around the body. Red is a favoured colour, while it's also common to find multicoloured designs and patterns created by accenting with blue or pink.
The Maasai tribes from Tanzania are typically crafty. You can usually spot them with simple sandals made from animal hides. Also, beadworks are a common preoccupation and both men and women use them for beautification.
Ugandan Kanzu
The Kanzu is an important traditional dress throughout the region of East Africa. With many variations of the same dress spread across different tribes and ethnic groups throughout the region. The Ugandan Kanzu was brought to the Buganda kingdom by their association with Arab traders. The leaders and people were very fond of the attire and their enthusiasm for it quickly spread to other groups and clans.
During those early times, the kanzu was made barkcloth. It was very similar to the Arabic thobe save for the subtle difference in their design. To add a touch of style to it, major embroidery is usually done on it. This leads to the creation of intricate designs around the collar, sleeves and belly region. Embroidery (known as Omulela) is big in Uganda and there are several locations, such as Mende, where kanzu knitting is done commercially.
The kanzu is commonly made from materials such as cotton, wool, silk and linen nowadays. Worn both by men and women, it is the traditional dress for weddings and other ceremonies.
Kitenge
Kitenge is a widely popular East African cotton fabric. Although it has its origins in East Africa, it has spread over to Central and West Africa over the years. Its wide acceptance can be attributed to how nicely it can be styled to fit into our everyday designs and wears.
Kitenges are very similar to other East African fabric like Kikoy and Kangas, only that they are made with much thicker cloth. In Malawi, Zambia, and Namibia, the term for it is chitenge. Generally, it was mostly worn by women. As yard sized sheets are suitable to tie around the waist or chest like a wrapper, or worn over the head like a scarf. They are altogether colourful pieces of clothing and can be accentuated with Swahili words of wisdom written all over it, particularly in coastal Kenya and Tanzania areas.
Kitenge is a versatile fabric, particular those made with cotton. African wax print fabrics, as it is widely known today, come in colourful designs and patterns which is increasingly being made into a stylish piece of clothing. They are suitable for many occasions as they can be made into skirts, shirts, trousers and dresses.
Kangas
Kanga is another piece of fabric that has existed in East Africa since the mid 19th century. They were said to have been inspired after some Muslim Women in Zanzibar and Mombasa purchased printed bandanas from Portuguese merchants. They sewed a number of these pieces together to form a distinctive piece of cloth. Local traders along the Swahili coast noticed the emerging trend and seized the opportunity by arranging for similar pieces to be produced locally.
The local designs were hand-stamped using carved wooden blocks. This was done on a locally woven cloth instead of joining several pieces together to make an attire.
Kangas are usually bought as a pair. They are then cut into two roughly equal pieces and sew along the raw edges before being worn. They are mostly worn by women but expect men to also know a thing or two about them because it is very popular and appreciated when given as gifts.