If one garment sums up everyday dress in Mozambique, it is the capulana, a sarong-like cloth that is considered a complete garment in its own right.
What is a capulana?
The cloth measures about two metres by one and is worn mainly in Mozambique and parts of south-eastern Africa. It can be a wrap skirt, a dress or a carrier for a baby. It is often worn with a headscarf and a tailored blouse, and used both for daily life and for outfits made for special events.
History and symbolism
Capulanas arrived along Arab and Indian trade routes, where Indian traders exchanged them for other goods, and Mozambicans came to prefer them to traditional animal skins. The earliest versions were mostly red, white and black, each colour carrying a symbolic meaning, and early designs included suns, leopards and lions. Today these early styles are mainly used by traditional healers and fetch higher prices.
Gifts and occasions
Bright capulanas are often given to women as gifts, and couples sometimes wear matching outfits at occasions such as traditional weddings.
Sources: Wikipedia: Capulana.
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