The Story Of The Kano Dress Code

Inside Nigeria

Fulani (left) and Hausa (right) turban.

The Story Of The Kano Dress Code

In modern-day Nigeria, the story of the Kano dress code tells a history of its people.

In Northwest Nigeria, the state of Kano is the most populated in the country. There you will find that the principal inhabitants consist of two main groups, the Hausa and Fulani people. Both groups combined create about 38% of Nigeria’s entire population. Due to their cultural similarities and close proximity, the Hausa and Fulani people are often grouped together and noted with a hyphenated collective term “Hausa-Fulani”. Though their histories and cultures are intertwined since the Fulani War in the early 1800s (although their coexistence dates back to the 1400s), each group still possesses a uniqueness to their culture that is worth noting.

One of the most notable differences between these two groups is the uniqueness of their turbans. For the Hausa people, one specific dress that stands out is the alasho, a special turban that is typically reserved for important ceremonies such as rites of passage into adulthood, marriage ceremonies, or the inauguration of leaders. The alasho is a long turban that covers the head and is worn across part of the neck and is an important symbol of prominence in Hausa culture. The Fulani people have a similar turban, but where the Hausa people generally wrap their turbans into a round shape, the Fulani turbans often have one or two ears sticking from the top. These are symbols which are often tied to prestige or status. The Fulani turban is similar to the alasho and often covers part of the face and neck as well. Historically, these turbans were used by travellers and herders in the region to protect the face from wind and sand. Both Hausa and Fulani turbans are similar to that of the tagelmust worn by the Tuareg people, but it is wrapped differently in a style that is unique to the people of the region, leaving the lower neck and parts of the face free.

The state of Kano is largely Muslim, and for this reason, much of the dress code of the people residing there abides by the rules of Islam. Hausa and Fulani men and women are required to cover the main parts of the body through modest dress. For the Fulani people, their clothing choices also adhere to pulaaku, an unwritten moral code of behaviour. This code centres around four main points: patience, respect, wisdom and hard work, guiding the Fulani people toward maintaining their identity and are reflected through their clothing. Neither the religious beliefs nor pulaaku restrict the inhabitants of Kano from expressing themselves through impressive and elaborate fashion.

Hausa men often wear a dress called babban riga, a large flowing gown that is measured to reach the floor and is appropriate for formal and informal occasions. It is designed with elaborate embroidery and patterns. An alternative dress for a Hausa male would be a robe-like dress called jalabiya. Casual and formal dress can also call for a fula, a colourful embroidered cap. Fulani men wear long robes similar to the babban riga, but also wear solid-coloured shirts and pants that reach their lower calves. In addition to their turbans, a cone-shaped leather or straw hat is worn on top of their heads, which is especially popular for men working in agriculture.

Hausa women will often wear colourful zani, a wrapper that can also serve in formal and informal occasions, depending on the quality of the fabric. At times, women also wear a loose, robe-like dress called an abaya. Fulani women will often wear their hair in long braids that art adorned with beads, shells, or even accent their hair with silver coins that have been passed down within their family.

Though the Hausa and Fulani people of Kano share a similar history and culture, what is apparent from the dress of the two neighbouring peoples is that they are two individual groups with their own identities and means of expression. The Hausa and Fulani live together through an appreciation of tradition, respect, morality and religious belief.