Colourful cultural explosion

Victoria University students put up exceptional performances as they represented their home countries during this year’s cultural day last weekend. Students from Uganda, DR Congo, South Sudan, Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Rwanda, India, Eritrea and Burundi participated at the event.

Clothes
The University’s cultural diversity saw Eritreans nail the kidan habesha (ije tebab), in the attire competition. This attire comprises a white shirt and pants.

Then a thin, gauze-like, fabric is wrapped around the shoulders and chest.

Sometimes, men take the extra material and wrap it around their waist making a skirt on top of their pants, then wrap it around their shoulders. This kind of clothing is worn with intricately designed stick and white shoes. It is mostly worn at weddings and cultural events.

Congolese wore colourful kitenge which befits weddings and any other parties while the Nigerians pulled off the dress shirt.

Burundians settled for a pagne, a cloth wraparound which is worn over dresses, blouses or shirts. Men always wear long pants as shorts are just worn by young children and schoolboys.

India touch
Shalwar kameez originates from the Indian sub-continent. The brown sandals looked good.

Kanzu
The kanzu used to be popular at customary weddings and among the Muslims but lately, it is worn even with fitting blazers to formal occasions.

Dashiki
The day was about bringing out culture but this student with his dashiki did not seem prim and proper for the day. The shirt did not match the blue dress pants.