"Sense" : The Act of Transforming Oneself Fashion in Dakar, Senegal
Abstract
At the turn of the twentieth century cloth was a form of currency in West Africa. The term “mokk pocc” a Wolof term that could be translated as ‘self-preparation” has a deep significance in Senegal. In this paper I will address “la mode Dakaroise” The Dakar Fashion and the idea of how looking presentable is valuable in the ethnoscape of Dakar, with the influence of European, Islamic, and African realities in local dress forms. The concept of “seṅse” to transform oneself, appearance, dress and beauty and how this is balanced or contradicted with Islamic morals such as modesty, and piousness. The hijab will also be explored and how the veil is perceived.
The production of cloth and different processes such as weaving provide great depth to the pageantry of Senegalese fashion. Women, specially go to great lengths and how this is perceived as how wealthy you are or social status. The inequality and mobility is easily judged by the clothing and “mokk pocc.” Attention will be placed on how deep cultural traditional clothing has been preserved, and how that has evolved or co-existed with tradition and modernity. Therefore, the Urban culture of Dakar is a nexus of cosmopolitanism and historically rich in textiles, handcraft and adornment customs. Modern urban fashion in Dakar, communicates so much of wealth and status, and how dress and can be interpreted as self-respect. Moreover, I will also differentiate between the variety of ethnic groups and their most distinctive style practices/materials.
Start Date
15-3-2013 2:50 PM
End Date
15-3-2013 4:15 PM
"Sense" : The Act of Transforming Oneself Fashion in Dakar, Senegal
Olscamp 101
At the turn of the twentieth century cloth was a form of currency in West Africa. The term “mokk pocc” a Wolof term that could be translated as ‘self-preparation” has a deep significance in Senegal. In this paper I will address “la mode Dakaroise” The Dakar Fashion and the idea of how looking presentable is valuable in the ethnoscape of Dakar, with the influence of European, Islamic, and African realities in local dress forms. The concept of “seṅse” to transform oneself, appearance, dress and beauty and how this is balanced or contradicted with Islamic morals such as modesty, and piousness. The hijab will also be explored and how the veil is perceived.
The production of cloth and different processes such as weaving provide great depth to the pageantry of Senegalese fashion. Women, specially go to great lengths and how this is perceived as how wealthy you are or social status. The inequality and mobility is easily judged by the clothing and “mokk pocc.” Attention will be placed on how deep cultural traditional clothing has been preserved, and how that has evolved or co-existed with tradition and modernity. Therefore, the Urban culture of Dakar is a nexus of cosmopolitanism and historically rich in textiles, handcraft and adornment customs. Modern urban fashion in Dakar, communicates so much of wealth and status, and how dress and can be interpreted as self-respect. Moreover, I will also differentiate between the variety of ethnic groups and their most distinctive style practices/materials.