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A kikoi is a traditional rectangle of woven cloth originating from
A kikoi is a traditional rectangle of woven cloth originating from Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
. Considered a part of Swahili culture, the kikoi is mostly worn by the Maasai people of Kenya as well as men from Tanzania and Zanzibar. It is most commonly viewed a type of sarong
A sarong or sarung () is a large tube or length of fabric, often wrapped around the waist, worn in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Western Asia, Northern Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric often has woven plaid o ...
.
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 likeOman
Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of ...
centuries ago.
In 1987, model Iman Abdul Majjid introduced kikois to the American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
market with distribution by the Echo Design Group. The garment remains a popular souvenir for tourists visiting Kenya.
Trademark controversy
In 2006,British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
company The Kikoy Company sought to trademark the word “kikoy” in the United Kingdom. Under the Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa
The Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa (COFTA) is an organized social movement that aims to eliminate poverty through the fair distribution of profits during international trade.Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa. (2012). Introduction. http:/ ...
, Kenyan kikoi producers fought back against the trademark, arguing it would hurt their sales in the UK market. The Kikoy Company later withdrew their trademark application. Scholar Sonali Maulik cited the incident as an example of how international intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...
law does not protect traditional cultural markers because the legal outcome of a challenge to the copyright application would be unclear.
References
{{reflist African clothing Skirts Swahili culture