Dashiki - Versions - Western Formal Equivalents

Western Formal Equivalents

The following chart gives a type of formal wear on the left and lists the African equivalent on the right. Some merchants distribute similar charts to their customers with equivalent men's and women's styles listed. In the trade, they are referred to as "African Attire Equivalency Charts". This type of chart is only used in the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, and the United States. In West Africa, a man's tribal affiliation governs his mode of dress. When wearing African attire to a formal event, any color is acceptable. However, many men prefer to wear black with gold embroidery, or dark blue with gold embroidery, to blend in with the dark tuxedos. In Afro-Latin American communities, white is the norm.

• Suit - dashiki shirt with black dress trousers and matching kufi. This style of attire is equivalent to a suit and may be worn by men of any nationality, race, or background.
• Morning dress - dashiki suit, Senegalese kaftan, or grand boubou. All three of these suits are acceptable attire for functions that require morning dress.
• Black tie - dashiki suit, Senegalese kaftan, or grand boubou. Although it is called a suit, a dashiki trouser set is equivalent to the tuxedo. A dashiki suit is perfectly suitable for any black tie event.
• White tie - Senegalese kaftan, or grand boubou. The dashiki suit is informal and out of place at white tie events. White tie events require an African robe or gown.