The Politics of Dress in Somali Culture (African Expressive Cultures)

The universal act of dressing -- shared by both men and women, young and old, rich and poor, minority and majority -- has shaped human interactions, communicated hopes and fears about the future, and embodied what it means to be Somali. Heather Marie Akou mines politics and history in this rich and compelling study of Somali material culture. Akou explores the evolution of Somali folk dress, the role of the Somali government in imposing styles of dress, competing forms of Islamic dress, and changes in Somali fashion in the U.S. With the collapse of the Somali state, Somalis continue a connection with their homeland and community through what they wear every day Cover Table of Contents Acknowledgments Timeline of Events 1 · The Political Symbolism of Dress 2 · The Origins of Somali Dress—Prehistory to 1800 3 · A Clash of Civilizations—1800 to 1945 4 · Dressing the Nation—1945 to 1991 5 · Dress in a Time of Extreme Change—1991 to 2010 6 · The Relevance of History Appendix · Stamps Issued in Somalia, 1960–1980 Glossary Notes Bibliography Index Politics and culture in everyday apparel