Kufi

A kufi or kufi cap is a brimless, short, rounded cap worn by people of African descent. Please refer to the taqiyah (cap) article for Muslim customs.

African and African-American Usage

In West Africa, a kufi cap is the traditional hat for men. The kufi has no religious significance. It is worn equally by Christians, Muslims, African Jews, and followers of African traditional religion. Many grandfathers and other older men wear a kufi everyday to symbolize their status as wise elders, religious people, or family patriarchs. Among Africa's Muslims, kufis are worn for Friday prayers, by religious men, and those who have performed the Muslim pilgrimage, see Hajj.

Within the United States, it has become identified with persons of African descent, who wear it to show pride in their culture, history, and religion. Often made of kente cloth, mudcloth, or knitted in a variety of yarns, kufis became popular fashion items throughout hip hop culture during the late-1980s/early-1990s.

Crown style kufis are the traditional hat worn with formal African attire, see Dashiki. A formal dashiki suit will always include a crown style kufi. While the knitted style is most appropriate for non-formal occasions, see U Remind Me. Other caps worn with the dashiki, Senegalese kaftan, and Grand Boubou, include:

* The Aso Oke Hat, from Nigeria

* The Jinnah cap, an artificial fur Karakul (hat), from South Asia

* The Peci, which is also called a "songkok", "rampuri cap", or "African fez cap", from Indonesia

* The Fez (hat), a wool cap with a stem from, North Africa, also called a "tarboush"

* The Abeti-aja, a triangular Yoruba hat, whose name means, "like the ears of a dog," from Nigeria

However, the crown style kufi is most common.

In the United States, many African-Americans wear the kufi during weddings; funerals; graduations; and Kwanzaa celebrations. Furthermore, people of African descent of all faiths wear the kufi, including Christians; African Jews; Black Hebrew Israelites; Muslims; Buddhists; and Vodoun practitioners.

Etymology

The cap worn with a dashiki is named for the city of Kufi, Nigeria, pronounced "coo-FEE". In the Yoruba language, "kufi" means crown, and "fila" means cap. The city of Kufi is located in Yorubaland near Ibadan. Other West African names include "fula", "fila", and "malo hat". The Swahili people of East Africa call this cap a "kofia", see the taqiyah (cap) article for further information. In the United States, the West African name, "kufi", is most commonly used.

Popular culture

In popular culture, the kufi was featured in the movies "Training Day" and "Rent". Oscar winner, Forest Whitaker wore a kufi in "Species". A groom wears a formal kufi in the film "Five on the Black Hand Side". Most notable of famous appearances of the kufi cap was singer Marvin Gaye's image during his "Let's Get It On" period in the mid-1970s.

Zulu crown

The Zulu crown is a hat that is worn by the Zulu people of Southern Africa. This lovely headdress is usually worn by women. In the Zulu language, this hat is called an "isicholo".

This article explains African customs, concerning the traditional hats worn with the dashiki. The taqiyah (cap), is a similar cap worn by Muslims for religious purposes. For Muslim customs and etiquette, please refer to the taqiyah (cap) article.

ee also

*Taqiyah (cap)--Traditional Muslim hat, also called a topi
*Aso Oke Hat
*Karakul (hat)
*Fez (hat)
*Dashiki
*Boubou (clothing)
*Senegalese kaftan
*Isiagu
*Kaftan (boubou)
*Ethiopian suit
*List of hats

External links

*Photos of Kufis and other African hats [http://www.africaimports.com/items.asp?CartId={5152577D-89A0-4897-8EVEREST445-5DC50F84E9BB}&Cc=hhw&Bc=]
* A popular kufi is [http://www.halalco.com/caps-kufi.html] The crochet kufi is usually only worn by Muslims. The knitted style is worn by both African-Americans and Muslims. Skull cap style kufis are also worn by both groups [http://www.salsabeel.com/estore/product.php?productid=725&cat=40] .
*An example of a crown kufi is [http://www.caravanxpress.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=008&DEPT=1084788683&CAT=1085100166&BACK=A0007A1B01084788683B1]
*A velvet fez or Rampuri cap [http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/pro18.pl?ref=crescentcatalog&ct=2872&pd=8201]
*A photo of a fez hat with a stem [http://www.alhannah.com/products/me426.html]
* Article about Zulu culture with photos [http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/aflang/zulu/culture.html#clothing] "WARNING" - this article contains nudity.
* Photos of authentic straw Zulu crowns [http://www.rebirth.co.za/hats/zulu_hats.htm]
* [http://mzuri-kaja.or.tz/mzuri%20caps.html MZURI KAJA CAPS] , the Mzuri Kaja Development Society
* [http://www.rebirth.co.za/african_hats.htm African Hats - Kofia]