What is the piece of material culture?
The dashiki is considered a piece of material culture because it is adorned by all people of color and supporters across the world. It symbolizes the beauty of Africa and delivers unspoken pride.
What is it used for?
Originally made to be a work shirt for the men of Africa, its popularity erupted once it arrived in the United states in the 1960's. From that time onward, it is used and worn as a means of expression by people of color everywhere. More commonly worn during Black holidays such as Kwanzaa.
What aspect of non-material culture does it represent?
The dashiki represents a mixture of expressive culture, societal culture, reflective culture. It is expressive because it is a form of visual art that expresses emotions and tells the story of African ancestral lines, more popularly "Black is Beautiful". Common in most traditional African art, an unspoken language can be delivered through the art. In this case, dashikis "speak" of countless things. For example, purple dashiki's represent African royalty. Dashikis represent reflective material culture because wearing a dashiki can be viewed as having the same values and practices as those who also wear dashikis. Finally, it is a form of societal culture because large groups take part in wearing a dashiki and it is a practice that people of African culture take part in both privately and publicly.
What is it made of?
Traditional Yoruba danshiki consisted of hand sewn together woven strips of cloth. Today they are made using more versatile textiles for larger distribution and to keep cool in the African heat. More formal dashiki can also be made using finer materials such as soft silks and lace, and have added intricate detail with embroidery. For the tailored suits option, heavier cottons and silks are used in the production of the dashiki to give them a more tailored and refined look.
Where is it produced & by whom?
Dashiki's originated in Nigeria, West Africa and were produced by the people of the Yoruba tribe. Today they are produced worldwide by several different African clothing companies and can even be purchased online.
Who might use it? How long have people been using it?
In West Africa, dashiki are worn by several individuals like Nigerians and Ghanaian. Since their creation, they have become an ideal trend as they are loose and comfortable enough to wear year round in the African heat. They can also be used for formal occasions like weddings and celebrations. In the US, dashiki are worn by all "Black is beautiful" supporters and sales of dashiki soar during Black celebrations like Black History month and Kwanzaa. People have been using dashiki as a form of fashion since their popularity boomed during the Black struggles of the 1960's. Since then, they have been used by a wide range of people from an African groom to Nelson Mandela.
How would they use it?
Dashiki's are used as a garment to be worn. In places like Ghana they are useful as being loose and airy shirts worn during scorching hot temperatures, and even as a form of formal attire that represents the beauty and pride of Africa. In America they are used as an "urban" fashion and are worn by individuals with a keen understanding of their heritage.
What symbols and markings does it contain?
While most dashiki are rather simple in detail, embroidery and Adinkra symbols can be added for more formal versions. Adinkra symbols are carved or embroidered symbols found in Adinkra cloth and dashiki shirts. They can each have an in depth meaning or can be related to proverbs from the bible. While they are not as small a symbol as an Adinkra symbol, the color of a dashiki can also symbolize different things. For example, purple and gold symbolize royalty and elegance, while white symbolizes purity and is the norm in Afro-Latino communities. Black dashiki are more worn for the mourning of a loved one, however they can also be worn for black tie events and special occasions.
The dashiki is considered a piece of material culture because it is adorned by all people of color and supporters across the world. It symbolizes the beauty of Africa and delivers unspoken pride.
What is it used for?
Originally made to be a work shirt for the men of Africa, its popularity erupted once it arrived in the United states in the 1960's. From that time onward, it is used and worn as a means of expression by people of color everywhere. More commonly worn during Black holidays such as Kwanzaa.
What aspect of non-material culture does it represent?
The dashiki represents a mixture of expressive culture, societal culture, reflective culture. It is expressive because it is a form of visual art that expresses emotions and tells the story of African ancestral lines, more popularly "Black is Beautiful". Common in most traditional African art, an unspoken language can be delivered through the art. In this case, dashikis "speak" of countless things. For example, purple dashiki's represent African royalty. Dashikis represent reflective material culture because wearing a dashiki can be viewed as having the same values and practices as those who also wear dashikis. Finally, it is a form of societal culture because large groups take part in wearing a dashiki and it is a practice that people of African culture take part in both privately and publicly.
What is it made of?
Traditional Yoruba danshiki consisted of hand sewn together woven strips of cloth. Today they are made using more versatile textiles for larger distribution and to keep cool in the African heat. More formal dashiki can also be made using finer materials such as soft silks and lace, and have added intricate detail with embroidery. For the tailored suits option, heavier cottons and silks are used in the production of the dashiki to give them a more tailored and refined look.
Where is it produced & by whom?
Dashiki's originated in Nigeria, West Africa and were produced by the people of the Yoruba tribe. Today they are produced worldwide by several different African clothing companies and can even be purchased online.
Who might use it? How long have people been using it?
In West Africa, dashiki are worn by several individuals like Nigerians and Ghanaian. Since their creation, they have become an ideal trend as they are loose and comfortable enough to wear year round in the African heat. They can also be used for formal occasions like weddings and celebrations. In the US, dashiki are worn by all "Black is beautiful" supporters and sales of dashiki soar during Black celebrations like Black History month and Kwanzaa. People have been using dashiki as a form of fashion since their popularity boomed during the Black struggles of the 1960's. Since then, they have been used by a wide range of people from an African groom to Nelson Mandela.
How would they use it?
Dashiki's are used as a garment to be worn. In places like Ghana they are useful as being loose and airy shirts worn during scorching hot temperatures, and even as a form of formal attire that represents the beauty and pride of Africa. In America they are used as an "urban" fashion and are worn by individuals with a keen understanding of their heritage.
What symbols and markings does it contain?
While most dashiki are rather simple in detail, embroidery and Adinkra symbols can be added for more formal versions. Adinkra symbols are carved or embroidered symbols found in Adinkra cloth and dashiki shirts. They can each have an in depth meaning or can be related to proverbs from the bible. While they are not as small a symbol as an Adinkra symbol, the color of a dashiki can also symbolize different things. For example, purple and gold symbolize royalty and elegance, while white symbolizes purity and is the norm in Afro-Latino communities. Black dashiki are more worn for the mourning of a loved one, however they can also be worn for black tie events and special occasions.
Could people of African descent live without it? Why or why not?
No, I do not believe that people of African descent would be able to carry on with their lives without the presence of dashiki. Since their popularity in the US, the dashiki has become a staple piece of African American heritage and culture. With a meaning of Black pride and Black is beautiful, dashiki shirts are known worldwide for their ability to evoke a sense of pride in the people that wear them. In my opinion, they are a means of expression and a form of modern cultural resistance from traditional European clothing because if this, I believe that as long as there are African American and Black Pride supporters, the dashiki will always have relevance in out society, and the world.