‘Africa’ is a single reference volume on dress and fashion in this region. The volume was originally part of the Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, which explores, in 760 articles and 3.6 million words, the dressed and adorned body across cultures and throughout history. The ten volumes have been made available individually for the first time only last month!
Berg is an academic publisher of books and journals with a strong focus on visual culture. Here they have lavishly illustrated with over 300 images – most previously unpublished Africa is the first volume on this set, and also the first major reference work to offer a comprehensive overview of dress and adornment in this vast continent of many nations and people. This is a land of contrasts, where age-old ceremonial dress and mask traditions coexist with the trappings of a modern, globalized society. This volume examines past and present dress practices, including the ornamental and symbolic meaning of body decoration, the historical significance of cloth and textiles, and the ancient trading relationships and migrations that have shaped Africa’s complex material culture. The rich, varied, and often deeply symbolic dress of African people is given its fullest coverage to date in this landmark work.
PART 1: Overview of Dress and Fashion in Africa – introducing The Study of African Dress
PART 2 : History of Dress and Fashion in Africa looking at such topics as African Fashion Designers, Prehistory to Colonialism and Colonialism to Independence amongst other studies.
PART 3: Types of Dress in Africa
PART 4 : African Textiles from North to West to East to Southern Africa
PART 5 : North Africa
PART 6: West Africa
The more intense volume breaks things down from Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Gambia, Ghana, Mali and more. With snapshots on Kalabari Peoples of Nigeria, The Nigerian Fashion Scene and Sierra Leone-Dress and Undress
PART 7: Central Africa looking at Identity, Dress, to Kuba Dress and Textiles and more.
PART 8: Horn of Africa
PART 9: East Africa
PART 10: Southern Africa
also an intensive volume which covers a variety of South African countries as well as looking at Nguni, Zulu, and Xhosa Dress and Beadwork, Tsonga Dress and Fashion, Migrant Workers, Production, and Fashion through to Women’s Cooperatives.







These volumes are definitely investment pieces but would leave you certainly very knowledged about the fashions in the vast continent of Africa.
Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion Vol 1
Africa
Joanne B. Eicher, Doran Ross
If you would like to see a full table of contents, this is available here: http://www.bergpublishers.com/?tabid=15219