About Men's African Leather Hats
In many parts of Africa, leather hats are a means of identifying a person's cultural standing, occupation or religious significance within a tribe or community. African men also wear certain head coverings to denote social standing, to show prosperity and to protect their heads from the hot sun. Traditional African leather hats for men come in a wide array of styles and shapes, including caps, bush hats and conical designs. Does this Spark an idea?
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Bush Hats
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Bush hats, also called Safari Bush hats, combine fashion and functionality. These wide-brimmed hats bear a striking similarity to fedoras and are typically made of leather though they can also be a combination of canvas and leather. The upper portion is made from woven leather to allow the head the "breathe" and stay cool in the hot sun. The brim keeps the sun out of ones eyes and helps to prevent sunburn on the face.
Kofia Hats
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Kofia hats, or Kufi hats as they are sometimes called, are traditional pillbox-shaped caps worn by men to show pride in their culture. These brimless leather hats are often worn for important events such as weddings, holidays and other celebrations. Often these hats are worn in conjunction with a traditional dashiki to show African pride. Kofia hats are worn by African people of all faiths, including Christians, Muslims and Jews.
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Burkina Faso Hats
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Burkina Faso hats are named for the region of Western Africa from which they hail. These wide brimmed hats are conical in shape and are typically a combination of leather and woven fibers. The hats are held to the head with a chin strap and are often ornate and decorative, commonly featuring stripes or swirls.
Mukotte Hats
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Mukotte hats are ornate head coverings that are made from leather, raffia and metal studs. Sometimes these hats feature additional ornamentation such as beads, shells and even feathers. They are constructed to resemble a hairstyle that is worn by both genders, but only men wear the Mukotte.
Toposa Hat
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Toposa hats originated in southern Sudan. These fitted men's skull caps are made of leather and are embellished with small beads sewn in a circular pattern. It is believed that the beading pattern may have stemmed from a popular traditional hairstyle. These intricate, handmade hats are worn solely by men within the tribe.
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