kikoi
{{Short description|Clothing emanating from Africa}}
File:Kikoy fabric at the Maasai Market in Nairobi, Kenya.jpg
A kikoi is a traditional rectangle of woven cloth originating from Africa. Considered a part of Swahili culture, the kikoi is mostly worn by the coastal men but now also includes the Maasai people of Kenya.{{cite web |last1=BU African Studies Library |title=African Textile Collection |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5cdde80193b143a583ac1a2279dc9ed9 |website=Storymaps.ArcGIS.com |date=9 December 2019 |accessdate=11 October 2020 |archive-date=10 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610143434/https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5cdde80193b143a583ac1a2279dc9ed9 |url-status=dead }} as well as men from Tanzania and Zanzibar. It is most commonly viewed a type of sarong.
Description
The kikoi is made of cotton and patterns are woven rather than dyed into the fabric. As with all sarongs, it is a single piece of cloth which is wrapped around the waist, and rolled over outwards a couple of times. Outside of their intended use as a sarong, they can be used as a sling to hold a baby, towel, or a head wrap.
History
The kikoi emerged from cultural exchange between East Africans and their trading partners from nations like Somalia centuries ago.{{cite news |title=Traditional Kenyan cloth becomes focus of trademark controversy |url=https://reuters.screenocean.com/record/360853 |accessdate=12 October 2020 |agency=Reuters}}{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Bernadine |title=Versatility in a Wrap Handmade in Kenya |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/20/style/versatility-in-a-wrap-handmade-in-kenya.html |accessdate=11 October 2020 |agency=The New York Times |date=1987}} The garment remains a popular souvenir for tourists visiting Kenya.{{cite magazine |last1=Perry |first1=Alex |title=Nairobi: Finding the Perfect Souvenir|magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1974866_1974863_1974852,00.html |access-date=11 October 2020}}