Hey Royal Fam,

Welcome back from a long 4th of July weekend! While soaking up some sun and much needed rest, I also had the chance to snap some great pics of my latest anthropological fashion find! This week, we're bringing our attention back to the Fulani Tribe, however this time, we're taking a look at a male fashion staple.

Traditional Straw & Leather Hat from Burkina Faso

In our last conversation about the Fulani people, we learned that this African tribe spans over sixteen West African countries, including Burkina Faso, the origins of this traditional herding hat. As an integral part of this tribes herding lifestyle, this straw hat has been crafted by the Fulai people since approximately the early 1600s.

Typically worn by men, these straw hats are weaved together from bits of grass and straw. While primarily made to protect the wearer from the harsh African sun during long hours tending to their cattle, these hats also have a fashionable function as well.

Hat are not only weaved as protection, but they are also crafted using embellishments to enhance it's beauty, as well as that of it's wearer. It is not uncommon to see a Fulani herding hat decorated with colorful dyes (red, black, and green, or yellows are common), cowrie shells, leather, and bits of traditional cloth.

Beauty and self expression are a hallmark features of the Fulani tribe. These hand-weaved hats are also worn by men when attending formal tribe ceremonies such as the Yaake Dance. In this particular ceremony, the beauty of the male aesthetic is decorated with makeup, cultural facial designs, and key traditional garments. The adornments worn for this occasion are meant to not only celebrate tribal tradition, but to also lure a potential bride by being the most attractive! These woven hats are part of this longstanding tradition.

Love the Style, Shop the Look!

As always, the goal of Queen Adwoa's Closet it to connect you with authentic ... culturally relevant .. and often times rare global pieces. If you've love what you've seen here, shop key items / replicate this look thought the links below!