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- Title
Universality and Diversity of the Mau Ogiek People'S Ethnic Dress, Kenya.
- Authors
Sophia, Njeru; Susan, Abong'o; Caleb, Okumu
- Abstract
The Mau Ogiek wear their ethnic dress to date but to some extent. Universally, dress is fabricated in the three basic patterns: draped, tailored and composite garment. The Mau Ogiek's dress, such as oguriet op inderit (hyrax pelt cloak) conforms to the draped pattern, as it is draped on the body and fastened either at the front or on the shoulder and secured by a belt. Diversity in dress patterns exists within and between cultures. The Mau Ogiek's dress differs between genders, age, rural and urban dwellers and geographical regions. Oguriet op poinet 'bushbuck pelt cloak' is exclusively worn by men when out hunting. The Mau Ogiek's dress differs from that of the neighbouring Maasai community, on the basis of function, technical, aesthetic, moral and ritualistic patterns. The Mau Ogiek rwagan and Maasai moran suspend swords at the waist on the right and the left hand side respectively. Despite diversities in dress patterns between cultures, the dress of different cultures can co-exist in one culture. The Mau Ogiek have adopted the Maasai shuka and the Kipsigis' mukwanjit 'walking stick'. This article has provided a cross-cultural perspective in adapting theories and practices of dress to an African ethnic group.
- Subjects
KENYA; OKIEK (African people); ETHNIC costume; SYMBOLISM; ETHNIC groups; CULTURE; ETHNOLOGY
- Publication
Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences, 2012, Vol 4, Issue 2, p465
- ISSN
1944-1088
- Publication type
Article