The Beauty Of Angolan Women's Headdress

The people of Angola have largely adopted Western-style clothing, but some traditional garments are still worn, particularly in rural areas or for special occasions. One of the most common and favoured national garments among Angolan women is the pano, a dress sewn from African traditional batik cloth. Another traditional garment is the omhatela-headdress, which is a symbol of married women.

The Omhatela headdress is a symbol of married status for women

The OvaKwanyama women's hairstyles and headdresses were closely related to their social position and status within the community. From the age of twelve, girls would prepare their hair for later headdresses. A mixture of fat and finely crushed root pieces of the Transvaal Teak, which gave the hair a red colour, was applied to their heads. This procedure was repeated several years later, and leaf fibres of the Sansevieria plant and additional hair were attached to the hair.

The headdress, known as elende, was decorated with cowrie shells and rubbed with the red mixture. It formed a broad, tail-shaped end that fell behind the neck. Once girls reached a marriageable age, they were called ovafuko and could participate in the efundula initiation rite, a combination of a puberty rite and group marriage ceremony.

After the efundula, the girls would attend a field school for eight weeks, during which they were given an omhatela-headdress, made from the leaf fibres of the Sansevieria plant and additional hair, and covered with the red mixture of fat and olukula. Making the headdress was exhausting work, as it was usually done in the hot sun, and served as an additional endurance test for the girls.

Once the girls had completed their field school, they were cleaned up and their bridegrooms were allowed access. As a symbol of their new married status, the young women continued to wear the omhatela headdress. If the headdress became unattractive, it was either replaced or discarded. If a widow or divorced woman remarried, she also wore the omhatela, with the two rear horns connected by a horizontal stave.

The elende headdress is decorated with cowrie shells

The elende headdress is an important part of the OvaKwanyama culture, the largest population group among the OvaWambo, whose traditional home is northern Namibia and southern Angola. The OvaKwanyama women's hairstyles and headdresses are closely related to their social position and status within the community.

The elende headdress is worn by girls who have reached marriageable age and are called ovafuko. To prepare their hair for the headdress, a mixture of fat and finely crushed pieces of root (olukula) of the Transvaal Teak, which gives the mixture a red colour, is applied to their heads. Several years later, this procedure is repeated, and leaf fibres of Sansevieria and additional hair are attached to the hair. The headdress is then decorated with cowrie shells and rubbed with the red olukula mixture, forming a broad, tail-shaped end behind the neck.

The elende headdress is worn during the efundula initiation rite, a combination of a puberty rite and group marriage ceremony. This ceremony is eagerly awaited by the girls and lasts for four days, serving to prepare them for the hardships of their future lives. During the ceremony, the girls participate in dancing to the sound of drums played by men.

The elende headdress, with its cowrie shell decoration, is a beautiful and distinctive feature of the OvaKwanyama culture, reflecting the social status and marital eligibility of the women who wear it.

The pano, a popular national garment, is worn with a headscarf

The pano is a national dress of Angola, worn by both men and women. It is a loose-fitting, brightly coloured garment, typically made from lightweight fabric. The pano is a versatile piece of clothing, consisting of a rectangular or square-shaped cloth that can be draped and styled in various ways. It is often adorned with intricate patterns and embroidery, showcasing the artistic skills of Angolan craftspeople.

The pano is a popular national garment, and one of the last national garments that can be seen in the streets of Angola on a daily basis. It is a perfect compromise between traditional dress and Western-style clothes. While the fabric is traditional cotton with an African print, the style and design can be modernised to suit the wearer's preferences. For example, the pano can be embellished with lace, ruffles, embroidery, pleats, and other decorations.

The pano is also worn with a headscarf, which is another way to add a touch of traditional culture to a contemporary outfit. The headscarf is typically made from the same traditional African batik cloth as the pano, featuring vibrant colours and intricate patterns.

The pano is a symbol of national identity and cultural pride for Angolans. It represents unity, diversity, and the harmonious coexistence of different ethnic groups in the country. Wearing the pano is an expression of national pride and a way to honour Angola's rich cultural heritage.

Women in rural Angola wear aprons and loincloths

Angolan ladies use different types of aprons and loincloths, which are usually made with woven vegetable fibre. They also decorate themselves with body adornments such as bracelets, necklaces, and bead ornaments.

While most Angolans have replaced their original folk clothing with modern European garments, some traditional garments are still in use, particularly in rural areas or for special occasions. For example, the pano, an African batik dress, remains popular among Angolan women, although it has been modernised and Westernised to some extent.

The pano is the most common and favoured national garment among women in Angola. It is a dress sewn from African traditional batik cloth, which is also used to make a variety of modern accessories, garments, and household items. The pano is so popular that there are many shops selling dozens of different styles, and tailors who take individual orders.

Angolan women often receive a pano as their first dress and continue to collect them throughout their lives, receiving them as gifts for special occasions such as weddings. They also wear other garments made from batik cloth, such as "quimones" (short blouses), "bubus" (long blouses), and various skirts and dresses in Western designs.

Women in Angola wear beaded jewellery, including head adornments

Angolan women are known for their love of handmade beaded jewellery, which they add to almost every outfit. They wear necklaces, bracelets, and head adornments, often incorporating beads into their hairstyles. The traditional necklaces are usually large and colourful, sometimes consisting of hundreds of rows of beads, and can cover the shoulders and chest.

In addition to beaded jewellery, Angolan women wear "panos", an African batik wraparound dress, and use different types of aprons and loincloths, typically made with woven vegetable fibre.

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