Top 5 Traditional Dresses in Cameroon

 Top 5 Traditional Dresses in Cameroon

Have you ever wondered why Cameroon is described as “Africa in miniature”? It is simply because of its geographical and cultural diversity, which takes us to our topic of interest. Is it food, is it dialects, is it trying out various traditional outfits, Cameroon has it all.

Clothing can signify one’s identity. Culture can be expressed through one’s actions, rituals, values, and beliefs not forgetting our attires. Dressing is a cultural practice and those who value their identity respect it. The question is; how often do you put on your traditional attire? How proud are you of your identity?

Traditional clothing in Cameroon includes the Toghu/Atoghu, Kabba, Sanja, Turbins, and other body dresses worn by both men and women of different ethnic backgrounds. Below are the top 5 traditional attires in Cameroon. 

 

Top 5 Traditional Attires in Cameroon

 

1. The Toghu traditional outfit

The number one traditional attire that comes to mind regarding traditional dresses in Cameroon is the Toghu also known as Atoghu native to people from the northwest and west regions of Cameroon. This attire is so popular that the Cameroon athletics team wore it in 2012 in London.

Toghu is a multi-coloured finely embroidered outfit. It is a black velvet fabric, heavy and resistant to wear. Back in the day, royalty and notables, both men and women, at weddings, celebrations, chieftaincy investitures, and other large-scale festivals usually wore the Atoghu attire compared to today’s society where it is worn across the nation and in almost our everyday life based on the individual reason.

2. Kabba traditional outfit

Kabba is the second traditional attire renowned in Cameroon. Women native to the littoral and southwest regions of Cameroon mostly wear this attire. For instance, the Dualas, Bakwerians, Bakossi, and Bassossi just to name a few.

 

3. The Sanja traditional outfit

Sanja (Loin), a long-sleeved shirt, and a traditional cap is a traditional regalia native to men in the southwest and littoral regions of Cameroon. It is worn during either small gatherings or festivals. For instance, in Manyu (Bayangians) it is common to see men dressed in this attire when performing a cultural dance known as “Egbe”.

 

4. Loin and lace blouse traditional outfit

This traditional regalia is native to women from Manyu division, the southwest region of Cameroon. It is very common to see women from this area on a typical Njangi day mostly Sundays, tying two loins (Wrapper) over a beautifully designed lace blouse and headscarf (optional).

 5. Finally yet important on the list of the top 5 traditional dresses in Cameroon is a traditional outfit belonging to a vast majority of the Muslims, Bororo, and Bamoum people in Cameroon. Male Muslims wear a long or mid-way marked jumper top or gown over a trouser while women put on a loin designed in a skirt form over a blouse and a veil or headscarf.

No matter how beautiful a lyric is, it has a duration to play. This being said, takes us to the end of our beautiful story about traditional attires in Cameroon. How high is your head when dressed in your traditional attire? Remember it tells others where you come from. It is your identity. We are open to suggestions about other traditional attires not mentioned in the article. Thanks for your time.