‘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 Here they have lavishly illustrated with over 300 images – most previously unpublished Africa is the first volume on this set, and also the first major reference work to offer a comprehensive overview of dress and adornment in this vast continent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

Africa by Berg Publishers – Vol.1

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 Edo women wear imported coral beads as anklets, bracelets, necklaces, and hair ornaments. As chiefs’ wives, they are canvases that display his wealth. The expense of coral means that imitations in glass and plastic are common. Benin City, Nigeria, 1994. Photograph by Kathy Curnow – image Berg Africa

Embroidered Bedouin dress from Sinai, late twentieth century. The Egyptian government encouraged Bedouin integration, resulting in fewer traditional dresses being worn. Textile Research Centre, Leiden (TRC 2008.0488). Photograph by Betty Wass El-Wakil – image berg Africa

Professional Mossi dance troupe at a regional fair in the city of Koudougou, 1970.  The dancers are wearing the gusseted cotton smocks that are common in central and southern Burkina. Photograph by Christopher D. Roy – image Berg Africa

Woman wearing a fashionable ready-to-wear African outfit which she bought at the open market in Bangui, Central African Republic, 2007. Photograph by Michelle Kisliuk – image Berg Africa

Kuba titleholders, including the king who wears copper armbands, in ceremonial dress. Mushenge, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1989. Photograph by Elisabeth L. Cameron – image Berg Africa

Kyoko – Berg image Africa