Public Face of Islam in Kumasi
By Gracia Clark
Modest Dress
The Holy Koran instructs both men and women to dress modestly. They have adopted styles from many Muslim countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Many of them wear clothing that declares their Muslim identity to people they meet. Others, just as devout, choose clothing that is well within the range of clothing styles worn by their non-Muslim neighbors.
Muslim women in Kumasi endorse the tradition of veiling, but interpret this principle in various ways. Almost always, they will name one item that covers their hair as their veil, their hijab. As the pictures here show, this varies widely; an ordinary headscarf tied over the hair, a larger scarf that covers the head, neck and shoulders, or a large shawl wrapped over the entire upper body all qualify as appropriate. In Kumasi, the larger shawls are often so sheer that concealing the body from view seems less important than marking it as veiled. Few have adopted the black robe common in Saudi Arabia, covering the whole body and the lower face.
Usually, more conservative styles are worn for Friday prayer and other religious occasions. More casual styles appear in secular contexts or heavy, dirty work, but still usually cover the upper arms and lower legs, ruling out mini skirts or tank tops. The particular dress a woman chooses does not seem to be a controversial issue here. A wide range of dress can be seen in public contexts without generating any comment or criticism from onlookers, let alone any religious enforcement.
Men's dress shows an equally wide variation. They also should avoid displaying the middle body, for example with muscle shirts, although shorts and sleeveless tops are common. On formal or religious occasions, men likewise favor more characteristically Muslim styles with long sleeves. Construction projects where Chinese and other non-Muslim men generally work shirtless reportedly offend some Muslim rural communities.
The Koran also advises men to wear white or light colors, especially green, which has become a marker of the Muslim faith and also dress When male dignitaries dress most formally, they sometimes wear flowing robes, turbans and shawls that cover as much of the body as conservative female dress. A shared aesthetic of gleaming white, abundant cloth and shimmering lace seems to connote high prestige for either gender.
Muslim women in Kumasi endorse the tradition of veiling, but interpret this principle in various ways. Almost always, they will name one item that covers their hair as their veil, their hijab. As the pictures here show, this varies widely; an ordinary headscarf tied over the hair, a larger scarf that covers the head, neck and shoulders, or a large shawl wrapped over the entire upper body all qualify as appropriate. In Kumasi, the larger shawls are often so sheer that concealing the body from view seems less important than marking it as veiled. Few have adopted the black robe common in Saudi Arabia, covering the whole body and the lower face.
Usually, more conservative styles are worn for Friday prayer and other religious occasions. More casual styles appear in secular contexts or heavy, dirty work, but still usually cover the upper arms and lower legs, ruling out mini skirts or tank tops. The particular dress a woman chooses does not seem to be a controversial issue here. A wide range of dress can be seen in public contexts without generating any comment or criticism from onlookers, let alone any religious enforcement.
Men's dress shows an equally wide variation. They also should avoid displaying the middle body, for example with muscle shirts, although shorts and sleeveless tops are common. On formal or religious occasions, men likewise favor more characteristically Muslim styles with long sleeves. Construction projects where Chinese and other non-Muslim men generally work shirtless reportedly offend some Muslim rural communities.
The Koran also advises men to wear white or light colors, especially green, which has become a marker of the Muslim faith and also dress When male dignitaries dress most formally, they sometimes wear flowing robes, turbans and shawls that cover as much of the body as conservative female dress. A shared aesthetic of gleaming white, abundant cloth and shimmering lace seems to connote high prestige for either gender.