When it comes to our native outfits, fugu is one of those special outfits that is not everywhere. While Ankara and other commonly used fabrics are everywhere, fugu is on its own. What do you know about this outfit?
The fugu is designed to contain at least two colors. Some of the common colour combinations that can be found on the Fugu include white, green and red, red, blue and white, deep or light black and white, black and white only, and so on. In the fugu, there is a wide range of mostly artistic embroidery which can be found on the front, back, and around the neck. White is the typical color for any embroidery on the smock.
Styles for the Fugu
There are several stylish and distinct styles for the modern fugu. They include:
1.) The Yenkisi: This is a sleeveless smock, which is worn by men, including chiefs. It is usually worn over long and short-sleeved shirts.
2.) The Banaga: This is a short-sleeved smock, which is usually above the elbow and represents success and health.
3.) The Jampa: This is another type of smock, which has sleeves that are extended to the wrist. It indicates that the wearer is a minor chief or of high status and rank.
4.) The Kpakoto: This is a three in one outfit, which contains the fugu, a pair of trousers and a cap. It has longer and wider sleeves than the other types and is mostly used by paramount chiefs for important occasions.
5.) The Kuntundi: This is a more elaborate style that has full, long, and very wide sleeves. Similar to the Kpakoto, the kuntundi is normally worn only by paramount chiefs during important occasions.
Arab-Islamic clothing
Clothing is influenced by society and culture. The type of attire a person wears can tell you about his/her religion, cross-cultural influences, political resistance, gender, cultural values, social standing, and so on. It also holds meanings on different levels such as the material, the symbolic, and the sociocultural levels. Just like normal clothing, Arab-Islamic clothing has with time, evolved from antiquity to crossroads of cultures, empires, and civilization developments.
Arabic dresses, clothing vocabulary, and their uses have been enriched and greatly diversified by influencing factors such as contact, trade, and conquest. Arabic clothing has several complex meanings in settings like secular or religious settings. It also has several symbolic roles, functional attributes, and cultural nuances in usage which despite cross-cultural and cross-ethnic similarities give uniqueness to the Arab-Islamic clothing.
The final step to completing any outfit is adding accessories. Accessories as simple as lashings of necklaces, a lovely bracelet, or even a belt can switch up your look from average to awesome. While shopping for that nice gown or blouse, remember to shop for good accessories. For the perfect finish, always remember to wear your stylish shoes, bags, hats, sunglasses, and jewelry.