More Than a Shirt: The Cultural Power of Dashikis

With its bright colors, bold patterns, and powerful meaning, the dashiki is more than a piece of clothing. It’s a symbol of culture, identity, and pride with deep roots in West Africa, especially in countries like Nigeria and Ghana. Traditionally worn during celebrations and important moments, dashikis communicate values, history, and community through their colors, patterns, and designs.
In the U.S. and around the world, dashikis have also become a symbol of Black pride, resistance, and cultural connection, especially during the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Today, you’ll see dashiki-inspired designs on runways, at festivals, in classrooms, and in everyday streetwear. Fashion becomes a language, and the dashiki tells a story.

Your Task:
Imagine you’re a culture & design researcher helping people understand the meaning behind what they wear.

Step 1: Look closely at a dashiki (online or in the image above)
What colors stand out?
What shapes, symbols, or patterns do you notice?
How does it make you feel when you look at it?
Step 2: Interpret one element(a color, pattern, or symbol) and explain:
What it might represent (community, strength, spirituality, celebration, identity, etc.)
Why the meaning could be important to people who wear it
Step 3: Answer one question:
Why do you think clothing can be a powerful way to express culture or identity?
Can you think of another item of clothing (from any culture) that carries meaning beyond fashion?

This Skillbuilder is in celebration of Black History Month.