Ghanaian smock

A Ghanaian smock is a plaid shirt that is similar to the dashiki, worn by men in Ghana.[1] There are also female versions of it. The smock is also called Bun-nwↃ or Bana by Mamprusis, fugu or a batakari in the northern region,dansika in Frafra,futik in Kusaal both in the upper east region.[2] It is worn by kings in the three northern regions but is now popular across Ghana. The smock originated in the northern region of Ghana, see external links for photos. The smock is not unlike the national attire of Burkina Faso known as faso dan fadi.

A boy wearing a heavy smock
A man wearing a light smock
A sleeveless smock in display

The smock and Kente cloth are the national dress of Ghana. Kente cloth originated in the southern region of Ghana.

The smock is made of hand-loomed strips popularly called Strip Cloths.[3] They are made of a mixture of dyed and undyed cotton loom, and are originally from the northern part of Ghana and other parts of West Africa. The strips are sewn together by hand or machine giving the smock a plaid appearance. Most smocks have embroidery on the neckline. The smock is worn with a kufi cap. However, chiefs in Ghana wear the smock with a red fez hat.

The smock in the West

Historically, the smock was rarely seen in the West. As recently as the 1990s, immigrants from Ghana were the only individuals seen wearing the smock. All of that changed as the popularity of films produced in Ghana increased among Black Americans and Caribbeans. In recent years people of African descent have started wearing smocks to churches, mosques, African festivals, and Kwanzaa celebrations in major Western cities like New York and Kingston, Jamaica.

A man is seen wearing a smock in the opening scene of the Jackie Appiah movie, I Knew Nothing Till You Taught Me.

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See also

References
  1. "Northern Ghana Clothing".
  2. "Ghanaian Folk Clothing". Archived from the original on 2009-01-09.
  3. "Handwoven Strip Cloth".
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