National Dashiki Day

Metro Atlanta

Photos: National Dashiki Day

Oct. 30 is National Dashiki Day.

Oct. 30 is National Dashiki Day -- a day of cultural celebration to the colorful garment that was adopted by African-Americans in the 1960s and 1970s as a symbol of pride, awareness, independence and power. Although the loose-fitting pullover garment traces its roots to West Africa, it found a place in America during the post-civil rights era of the late 1960s during the black power movement. AJC Sepia asked people to submit photos of themselves with their baddest dashikis. The response was global. Take a look inside. Cover photo courtesy of Tracy Roberts of Hampton, Va.

One of the first times the word “dashiki” was used in print was in 1967 to describe some of the attire worn by rioters during the Newark riots. The garments were a fixture on television shows like “Soul Train,” and socially conscious blacks like Stevie Wonder (seen here in a 2010 concert), James Earl Jones, Jim Brown, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabber all regularly wore the garment. Today, the garment is no less political, but highly fashionable. Appearing everywhere from runways to college campuses.

Grace Asiegbu, (in gold) is a 19-year old student at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. She is joined by her sister Joy Asiegbu (blue); cousin Roselyn Mbonu (purple); and cousin Grace Ukiwo (red). “My family is Nigerian, so wearing the dashiki for me means celebrating my ethnicity. In a time where the powers that be want me to assimilate, I wear it in pride and protest to those voices.”

Charlene Hendricks is an 18-year-old student at Newton High School in Conyers. "I wear my dashiki because it makes a statement, it's unique and vibrant but it has such a stronger meaning than just being an article of clothing. It shows heritage, honor and strength."

Josiah Riddick, is a 15-year-old from Marietta. He is rocking his father’s dashiki from his days at Johnson C. Smith University in the 1990s. “My mother (Josiah's grandmother) traveled to Africa several times and brought it back for me. It is from Ghana,” said Carlton Riddick. “That dashiki always made me feel connected to the motherland of our people especially knowing it was brought back from Africa. I feel proud to have Josiah wear it and will pass it on to him as an heirloom since he is my first born son.”

Quisa D. Foster is a public relations specialist in Atlanta. "Honestly I didn't own a dashiki until a couple months ago. But the moment I put it on I had a 70s flashback and I was only a toddler in the 70s. That era was all about peace, love and freedom. I love the mindset. Bring back the 70s."

Carla Henderson is a 21-year-old insurance specialist in Omaha. "I wear my dashiki because this store in a St. Louis Outlet Mall sells African products and there were dashikis up on the wall, along with fabrics you can buy and dresses. I see this beautiful purple dashiki and it reminds me of my grandma who was big on knowing black history as well as Africa's history. I knew I'd find nothing like it back home so I had to have it. I get to feel close to my grandma again and embraced my heritage all in one."

Tanya Price is a 44-year-old health insurance consultant in Durham, N.C. "I wear a dashiki because I'm so very proud to be an African! Yes I was born in the United States but I know my DNA travels back to Africa. There is something about wearing a garment that is vibrantly colored and intricately made, whose history travels back to the land of my people that instills a sense of pride!! My jewelry, hair and my dashiki make me feel like queen I am."

Tia Allen is a 25-year-old graduate student at Western Kentucky University, pursuing a masters of health administration. "I wear a dashiki to symbolize my pride, and to represent the birthplace of my people. I feel it's important to pay homage to my roots, especially at a PWI (predominantly white institution) where we have such a small population. I like the look of it, and how prideful it makes me feel."

Bethany White is a 19-year-old sophomore at North Carolina Central University. "I love wearing a dashiki because I love the bright colors. It is a unique piece of clothing that not everyone has, and it represents Black culture."

Sherri Rosen is a 54-year-old book publicist living in Harlem. “I love the African colors and designs. And it's fun to wear them. A friend in Amsterdam loved my dashiki so much when he saw it that I sent him same one."

Candace Clark is a 20-year-old student at Tuskegee University. “I wear them because they are a personal statement of my colorfully flagrant individuality. And every time I wear it, it’s a challenge to see how many different ways I can rock it. And to know no one else can copy me. Cause I didn't even expect it. "

Dejah Lynn Poole is a 16 years old at the Chicago High School for The Arts. "I wear dashikis to bring out black power and pride."

De'Vante Tucker is an 18-year-old at Texas Southern University “I wear a dashiki to embrace my heritage as a African American, also to let the world know I embrace it in full stride.”

Doniea Walker is a 36-year-old daycare provider in Woodbury, N.J. “I love my dashiki! It empowers me. I love the colors and what it represents. I can dress it up or wear it with jeans.”

Rayven Monroé is an 18-year-old student at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. “I wear them to connect with my African roots! I don't know where I come from exactly because they erased my history, but this makes me feel a little more connected.”

Amandah Opoku is a 19-year-old university student in Toronto, Ontario. “Dashikis are unique and colorful, and allow individuals to embrace them in their own way. That's what I love most about them in addition to being comfortable.”

Jamila Dunn is a 25-year-old college student in Lawrenceville. "I like wearing my dashiki because it sets me apart from the rest. The bright and bold colors represent me. I love to stand out. And of course dashikis are from the Motherland, which I want to learn more about and become closer to each day."

Jeanine Muambais a sales advisor in London. “I wear a dashiki because it is beautiful, it's part of my history. I am proud to be black and African, which is why I wear a dashiki.”

Carla Dioume is a 39-year-old counselor from Chicago.“I love to wear dashikis and dashiki prints because it's unique, allows individuality to be expressed, but also, more importantly, represents UNITY. I would love for our culture to continue to be seen and heard and stand up for what we believe and take things back to the essence. Our roots run deep and learning, building and expressing ourselves is vital."

Keinon Johnson is an Atlanta entertainment executive and social activist. “I rock the dashiki because it represents the strength and lineage of African culture. And it's fashionably fly.”

Kudzai Mushambi is an 18-year-old college student in England. “I wear a dashiki because it makes me feel powerful and connected to my roots. I love embracing my heritage and the uniqueness of a dashiki is what I love the most!”

Nakiya Russell is a 16-year-old high school student in Phoenix. "I wear dashikis because I think it important to embrace the culture of my ancestors while also making it 'my own.' To me, wearing a dashiki is a simple way to remember everything I've gained and everything I've learned from the trials and triumphs endured by loved ones long ago."

Selena Roberts is a 17-year-old from Woodbridge, N.J. “I wear the dashiki because I am in love with the African culture."

Aaron Griffin is a 32-year-old client success manager for Kantar Media in Atlanta. "I wear the dashiki because its design is one of royalty, and it reminds me of heritage."

1/25

Oct. 30 is National Dashiki Day -- a day of cultural celebration to the colorful garment that was adopted by African-Americans in the 1960s and 1970s as a symbol of pride, awareness, independence and power. Although the loose-fitting pullover garment traces its roots to West Africa, it found a place in America during the post-civil rights era of the late 1960s during the black power movement. AJC Sepia asked people to submit photos of themselves with their baddest dashikis. The response was global. Take a look inside. Cover photo courtesy of Tracy Roberts of Hampton, Va.

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