Kufi

Akufiorkufi capis a brimless, short, and roundedcapworn by men in many populations inNorth Africa,East Africa,West Africa,South Asia,and theMiddle East.^[1] It is also worn by men throughout theAfrican diaspora.The cap has strong associations with manyIslamic culturesandpan-Africanpride.^[2]In the United States and the United Kingdom, it is also called a "taqiyah".^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

The kufi cap is not specific to any one country, although it has been perhaps most associated withNigeria.^[7]InTogo,the kufi is made from colourful fabrics, and are often worn during important events such as weddings, festivals, and other ceremonies.^[8]In MamaTchambaperformances, the kufi is worn as anadornmentduring dances.^[9]Within Islamic communities in West Africa the kufi is worn duringprayer.^[10]

Islamic, African and African American usage

The hat has strong associations with manyIslamiccultures, as well asPan-Africanpride.^[11]InWest Africa,a kufi cap is the traditional hat for men, and is part of thenational costumeof most of the countries in the region. It is worn byMuslims,andAfrican Christians.Many grandfathers and other older men wear a kufi every day to symbolize their status as wise elders, religious people, or family patriarchs.^[12]

Within theUnited States,it has become identified primarily with persons of West African heritage, who wear it to show pride in their culture, history, and religion (whetherChristianity,Islam,orTraditional African religions). It is often made ofkente cloth,mudcloth,orknittedorcrochetedin a variety of yarns.^{[citation needed]}

Crown style kufis are the traditional hat worn with formal West African attire.^[13]A formaldashikisuit will always include a crown style kufi, while the knitted style is most appropriate for non-formal occasions. Other caps worn with the dashiki,Senegalese kaftan,andgrand boubou,include:^{[citation needed]}

Theaso oke hat,or fila, from Nigeria
Thefez,or tarboosh, a wool cap with a stem fromNorth AfricaandTurkey
The abeti-aja, a triangularYorubahat, whose name means "like the ears of a dog", from Nigeria

However, the crown style kufi is most common.^{[citation needed]}

In the United States today, manyAfrican-Americanswear the kufi duringweddings,funerals,graduationsandKwanzaacelebrations. Furthermore, people of mainly West African heritage of all faiths wear the kufi, although it is associated more with members of the Islamic faith.^{[citation needed]}

A West African king or tribal chief may have royal or noble arms embroidered on the kufi.^{[citation needed]}

For members of theChristianfaith, the kufi is unisex, and is also worn by women. Crochet and knitted styles are preferred by young girls and infants.^{[citation needed]}

Traditionally, when worn by men, the kufi is a sign of peace, mourning, renewal or protection of the mind.^{[citation needed]}

Etymology

In theYoruba language,Ademeans crown, andfilameans cap. The city of Kufi is located inYorubalandnearIbadan.Other West African names includefula,fila,andmalo hat.^[14]This cap is called akofiain theSwahili languageofEast Africa^[15](see thekanzuarticle for further information). In theUnited States,the West African name,kufi,is most commonly used.^{[citation needed]}

International use

Jazz fusion keyboardistJoe Zawinulperforming on stage and wearing a kufi cap.

Jazz rock/jazz fusion Weather Reportfrontman and keyboardistJoe Zawinulwore kufi caps for a long time, both on stage with the band and outside of it, in his private/personal life. He is known for having changed various kufi models throughout the passing of time as well, as shown in the live performances of Weather Report from the 1970s and 1980s.Progressive rock DutchlegendThijs van Leeralso wore kufi caps during his early career with his band,Focus,in the 1970s. He can be seen wearing one in the music video for "House of the King"(also thetheme songfor the British TV showSaxondale). In addition,RushdrummerNeil Pearttook to wearing a kufi during performances after touring Cameroon by bicycle in 1988.^{[citation needed]}

In the beginning of the 2018 Americanaction filmThe Equalizer 2,the character Robert McCall, played byDenzel Washington,is seen disguised as a Muslim and wearing a kufi.^[16]

The caps were featured as dancers in the 2018 music video "All the Stars"by the artistKendrick Lamar.^[17]^[18]

References

^Rogers, Russ; Devost, Matthew G. (27 January 2005).Hacking a Terror Network: The Silent Threat of Covert Channels.Elsevier.ISBN 9780080488882.
^Fifty Hats that Changed the World: Design Museum Fifty.Octopus. 7 March 2011.ISBN 9781840915884.
^Sandhoff, Michelle (September 2017).Service in a Time of Suspicion: Experiences of Muslims Serving in the U.S. Military Post-9/11.University of Iowa Press.ISBN 978-1-60938-535-4.
^Osbourne, Eileen (2005). RE - Buildings, Places, and Artefacts A Teacher Book + Student Book (SEN) (11-14). Folens Limited.
^Cottam, Harry (5 January 2024).The Pakistan Connection: My Insights on Pakistan and Pakistanis.Austin Macauley Publishers.ISBN 978-1-3984-5078-3.
^Wilkinson, Matthew; Irfan, Lamia; Quraishi, Muzammil; Purdie, Mallory Schneuwly (6 December 2022).Islam in Prison: Finding Faith, Freedom and Fraternity.Policy Press.ISBN 978-1-4473-6361-3.
^Morgan, Jo-Ann (17 December 2018).The Black Arts Movement and the Black Panther Party in American Visual Culture.Routledge.ISBN 978-0-429-88587-7.
^Gilad James, PhD.Introduction to Togo.Gilad James Mystery School.ISBN 978-1-123-52537-3.
^Covington-Ward, Yolanda; Jouili, Jeanette S. (9 August 2021).Embodying Black Religions in Africa and Its Diasporas.Duke University Press.ISBN 978-1-4780-1311-2.
^Morgan, Jo-Ann (17 December 2018).The Black Arts Movement and the Black Panther Party in American Visual Culture.Routledge.ISBN 978-0-429-88587-7.
^Fifty Hats that Changed the World: Design Museum Fifty.Octopus. 7 March 2011.ISBN 9781840915884.
^"Senior caps".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-26.
^"Men of substance".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-26.
^"Who the Cap Fits".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-26.
^"Mzuri Kaja caps".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-07-04.
^https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-equalizer-2-review-denzel-washington-sequel-1201984765/
^"How a 'Black Panther' Music Video Taps into an Old Trend".The Atlantic.March 2018.
^"Kendrick Lamar and SZA Serve Wakandan Royal Opulence in 'All the Stars' Video".6 February 2018.

External links

Media related toKufiat Wikimedia Commons

[1] Rogers, Russ; Devost, Matthew G. (27 January 2005).Hacking a Terror Network: The Silent Threat of Covert Channels.Elsevier.ISBN 9780080488882.

[2] Fifty Hats that Changed the World: Design Museum Fifty.Octopus. 7 March 2011.ISBN 9781840915884.

[3] Sandhoff, Michelle (September 2017).Service in a Time of Suspicion: Experiences of Muslims Serving in the U.S. Military Post-9/11.University of Iowa Press.ISBN 978-1-60938-535-4.

[4] Osbourne, Eileen (2005). RE - Buildings, Places, and Artefacts A Teacher Book + Student Book (SEN) (11-14). Folens Limited.

[5] Cottam, Harry (5 January 2024).The Pakistan Connection: My Insights on Pakistan and Pakistanis.Austin Macauley Publishers.ISBN 978-1-3984-5078-3.

[6] Wilkinson, Matthew; Irfan, Lamia; Quraishi, Muzammil; Purdie, Mallory Schneuwly (6 December 2022).Islam in Prison: Finding Faith, Freedom and Fraternity.Policy Press.ISBN 978-1-4473-6361-3.

[7] Morgan, Jo-Ann (17 December 2018).The Black Arts Movement and the Black Panther Party in American Visual Culture.Routledge.ISBN 978-0-429-88587-7.

[8] Gilad James, PhD.Introduction to Togo.Gilad James Mystery School.ISBN 978-1-123-52537-3.

[9] Covington-Ward, Yolanda; Jouili, Jeanette S. (9 August 2021).Embodying Black Religions in Africa and Its Diasporas.Duke University Press.ISBN 978-1-4780-1311-2.

[10] Morgan, Jo-Ann (17 December 2018).The Black Arts Movement and the Black Panther Party in American Visual Culture.Routledge.ISBN 978-0-429-88587-7.

[11] Fifty Hats that Changed the World: Design Museum Fifty.Octopus. 7 March 2011.ISBN 9781840915884.

[sunnewsonline-12] "Senior caps".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-26.

[sunnewsonline2-13] "Men of substance".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-26.

[sunnewsonline3-14] "Who the Cap Fits".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-26.

[Mzuri_Kaja-15] "Mzuri Kaja caps".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-07-04.

[16] ttps://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-equalizer-2-review-denzel-washington-sequel-1201984765/

[17] "How a 'Black Panther' Music Video Taps into an Old Trend".The Atlantic.March 2018.

[18] "Kendrick Lamar and SZA Serve Wakandan Royal Opulence in 'All the Stars' Video".6 February 2018.

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Kufi

Contents

Islamic, African and African American usage

Etymology

International use

See also

References

Further reading

External links