Dashiki – An African long-sleeved tunic with vibrant colors. It features a V-shaped neckline and is worn over the head. Dashiki is never tucked into his trousers and is instead worn as loosely as possible. They’re ideal for the summer. Dashikis were popular among hippies due to their vibrant African motifs, and they’re still a big hit among African artists.
A dashiki is a free and colorful African blouse. Wearing a dashiki will make you stand out in a crowd.
You could love wearing a dashiki if you enjoy wearing bright colors and being comfy. This pullover garment, which guys mostly wear, is a must-have for every West African. It’s bright, sassy, and long. It’s simple to detect someone wearing a dashiki. A Hawaiian shirt, which is likewise highly bright, is perhaps the closest sort of American shirt. Dashikis are not for you if you love tight or drab clothing. Dashiki is derived from the Yoruba language of Nigeria.
The name “dashiki” is derived from the Yoruba word Dan-Shiki, a loose-fitting pullover developed in West Africa as a utilitarian work tunic for men that could be worn in hot weather. The word Danshiki was derived from the Hausa phrase Dan Ciki or Shiki, which means “below.”
Males wore the Dan-Chiki clothing beneath their huge robes. Similar robes have been discovered in holy Dogon burial caves in Southern Mali dating from the 12th and 13th centuries.
The clothing’s origins are obvious—and it’s authentically African garment. Its metaphorical meaning, on the other hand, was shaped thousands of kilometers away from the continent’s boundaries. Those of African origin, whose forefathers were transported to North America in shackles, were the ones who carried the torch.
The Dashiki gained political clout during the Civil Rights and Black Panther movements of the 1960s and early 1970s. African Americans embraced the essay as a method of criticizing Western cultural standards. This is when the Dashiki went beyond fashion and utility to become a symbol of Black pride, as symbolic of black beauty as an afro or a raised fist.
Dashikis have been more fashionable in the fashion world and among celebrities in recent years. While the design seen above is an Angelina print, it has been so strongly associated with Dashikis that many people have begun to refer to it as a Dashiki. Toon van de Manakker, a Viisco textile designer, designed the Angelina pattern, which is based on a 19th-century Ethiopian noblewoman’s garment. Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, and Togo are among the nations in West Africa where this print style is most popular.
The Dashiki signify affirmation and a return to African origins for most people. The dashiki shirt has been worn by African-Americans to celebrate their African history and promote Black pride since the late 1960s. As a unisex item, many men and women wear the Dashiki during Black History Month.
In recent years, the dashiki shirt has become an important piece of streetwear, and celebrities have been seen wearing gorgeous designs. It may be worn with a jacket, trousers, skirts, wrappers, and even a gown Dashiki. You can’t go wrong with a multi-colored Dashiki, whether you’re trying to achieve a retro appearance, slay, or connect with your African roots.
Celebrities who the Dashiki has swayed
The return of the Dashiki since the 1960s hasn’t gone unnoticed by individuals of African origin in the diaspora, who used to shun traditional African apparel since it was associated with “older generation migrants.”
The symbolic garment became the most popular casual/streetwear for individuals of African origin globally from 2012 until about 2016 when it peaked, and many celebrities joined in the celebration of identity via fashion. From Amandla Stenberg to Beyonce, Chris Brown, Drake, French Montana, Jhené Aiko, Rihanna, Wale, and Zendaya, almost everyone appeared to be wearing the Dashiki to make a fashion statement.
Because of the celebrities who have been seen wearing the garment, its popularity has grown worldwide, and many designers are designing exquisite pieces using the Angelina fabric, which is available in a variety of brilliant colors.
