Karakul (hat)

A Qaraqul (Karacul, QaraQul) hat ( _fa. قراقلی) is a hat made from the fur of the Qaraqul breed of sheep. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,51034,00.html Hamid Karzai's Famous Hat Made From Aborted Lamb Fetuses] FOX News] [ [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/bizfocus/archives/2007/05/27/2003362700/print Qaraquls burst upon the fashion world] , AP, KANIMEKH, UZBEKISTAN, Sunday, May 27, 2007, Page 12] [ [http://www.infurmation.com/press_detail.php?id=99 HSUS Investigation Reveals Slaughter of Unborn and Newborn Lambs for Fur: Dateline NBC Features Undercover Investigation Documenting Animal Cruelty] , Dec 12, 2000] [ [http://www.furcommission.com/news/newsF02d.htm Transcript of NBC "Dateline" Feature on Karakul Production] ] The fur from which it is made is referred to as Astrakhan, broadtail, qaraqulcha, or Persian lamb. Qaraqul means Black fur in Turkic, similar types of hats are common among Turkic peoples. The hat is peaked, and folds flat when taken off of the wearer's head.

The qaraqul hat is typically worn by Muslim men in Central and South Asia. Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan, famously wears a qaraqul hat. Since his presidential appointment, qaraqul hats have become more popular among men in Afghanistan.

Jinnah cap

[
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah wearing a Qaraqul hat famously known as Jinnah Cap in Pakistan] A Jinnah cap is an artificial fur qaraqul hat named for the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The Jinnah cap and shalwar kameez are the national dress of Pakistan.

Jinnah caps became popular among Africans and African-Americans in the 1960s. African Presidents, Modibo Keïta of Mali, and Ahmed Sékou Touré of Guinea wore the Jinnah cap to show their independence from European colonial power. The velvet version is called a Rampuri cap, or Peci. Both the velvet and faux fur versions are worn by men of African descent with Western suits, and African attire such as the Grand boubou. Muslims of African ancestry wear these caps with the dishdasha. In urban slang, the Jinnah cap is called a "fur kufi", while the Rampuri cap is called a "velvet fez hat". When worn properly, these caps are always slanted at an angle, and never placed straight on the head. Leopard print Jinnah caps are common in Africa, but are rarely seen in the United States. In popular culture, Eddie Murphy wore the Jinnah cap in the movie, Coming to America.

While the Jinnah cap is often worn by African and African-American Christians and Jews, the Pakol is only worn by Muslims. Like the Jinnah cap, the Pakol is traditionally a hat for Afghan or Pashtun men. However, unlike the Jinnah cap, the Pakol is not worn by non-Muslims of African heritage. Most Christians who wear Jinnah or Rampuri caps purchase them from Muslim booksellers. Few African clothing stores sell these caps. Nevertheless, they are often worn during Kwanzaa and other celebrations.

References

ee also

*Astrakhan (fur)
*Taqiyah (cap)

External links

The Caps of Pakistan [http://pakistaniat.com/2006/11/27/pakistan-caps/]

Further reading

Robert Coughlan, "Tropical Africa" (Time Life Publishers, Inc. 1962), p. 74-75.