A kufi or kufi cap is a brimless, short, and rounded cap worn by men in many populations in North Africa, East Africa, Western Africa, and South Asia. It is also worn by men throughout the African diaspora. It is also commonly called a “topi” or “Tupi” in the Indian subcontinent.
In West Africa, a kufi cap is the traditional hat for men and is part of the national costume of most of the countries in the region. It is worn by Muslims and African Christians. Many grandfathers and other older men wear a kufi every day to symbolize their status as wise elders, religious people, or family patriarchs.
Within the United States, it has become identified primarily with persons of West African heritage, who wear it to show pride in their culture, history, and religion (whether Christianity, Islam, or Traditional African religions). It is often made of kente cloth, mudcloth, or knitted or crocheted in a variety of yarns.
Crown style kufis are the traditional hat worn with formal West African attire (see Dashiki). A formal dashiki suit will always include a crown-style kufi, while the knitted style is most appropriate for non-formal occasions. Other caps worn with the dashiki, Senegalese kaftan, and grand boubou, include:
. The Aso Oke hat, from Nigeria
. The Fez, a wool cap with a stem from North Africa, also called a tarboosh
. The Abeti-aja, a triangular Yoruba hat, whose name means “like the ears of a dog”, from Nigeria
Etymology
In the Yoruba language, Ade means a crown, and fila mean cap. The city of Kufi is located in Yorubaland near Ibadan. Other West African names include fula, fila, and malo hat. This cap is called a kofia in the Swahili language of East Africa (see the kanzu article for further information). In the United States, the West African name, kufi, is most commonly used.
