Some Oromo men wear woya (toga-like robes), and some women wear wandabiti (skirts). Others wear leather garments or animal skin robes, and some women wear qollo and sadetta (women's cloth made of cotton). Modern garments from around the world are also worn. In cash-producing areas and cities, Oromos wear modern Western-style clothes. Oromos have clothes designated for special days. They call the clothes that they wear on holidays or other important days kitii and the clothes that they wear on working days lago.
Women of this society are still seen as inferior. They are to act in the shadows of men as if they wore hijabs or burqas. The freedom to wear skirts and dresses are seen as normal. Some women are christian meaning they share different views of the body compared to Muslim women of the same tribe. It is mostly these women who wear modern garments. Women are generally very flashy and wear mean accessories while men wear very few colors day-to-day.
Hmmm.... I wouldn't mind wearing these clothes myself.
Oromo women dressed in traditional clothing
The clothing looks very vibrant for women! I think it is nice that the women can express theirselves through their clothing. I noticed that the women are seen as inferior in Ethiopia. This is similar to how the women are seen in Somalia, due to the influence of al-Shabaab and the heavy influence of culture and religion on the society society. However, unlike Ethiopia, Somalia is a lot more Islamic than Christian. This could limit some of the outfits that Somalis could wear that would be seen as acceptable to wear in Ethiopia.
ReplyDelete-Mariko, Somalia