African Traditional Dresses

There is true beauty in Africa ! We have a rich culture and heritage that no one can take away from us. It is so beautiful that people from all walks of life travel from far and wide to spend several thousands of hard earned money to catch a glimpse of this culture and experience it first hand.

It is the colour, style and uniqueness of African dressing that has made it so popular around the globe. Every country has it’s own unique way of dressing and this is largely linked to the many ethnic groups and tribes located in Africa.

You may have seen some of these masterpieces on runways of international fashion shows by great African designers. However, no matter how these designers try to modify the dresses, the style doesn't change. Many of these dresses are either named after prestigious past leaders or heroes. Others are based on some very important history. Talk of the ‘’Madiba Shirt’’ from southern Africa (South AFrica), the ‘’ Kente ’’ from Ghana and the ‘’Boubou’’ from Senegal. These represent some of the best African costumes. Other notable mentions are the ‘’Kaftan and Wrapper’’ from Nigeria, the ‘’Kanga and kitenge’’ from Tanzania and the ‘’Togho’’ from Cameroon.

‘’Kente’’ is a Ghanaian local cloth. It is generally accepted as a cloth worn by royalty. It is hand woven in wooden looms and is of very high worth. Kente comes in a wide variety of colours,patterns and designs. Each design and pattern has its own unique meaning. According to Ghanaian mythology, kente cloth was first created when 2 friends watched how a spider wove its web. By copying the movements of the spiders, they created Kente cloth the same way. This story, whether true or not, shows the harmony between Ghanaians and mother nature.

Jovago.com , Africa’s leading online hotel booking portal presents you an infographic, showcasing some African traditional couture’s from different countries across the continent.