Kofia (hat)

The kofia is a type of brimless cylindrical headwear with a flat top, typically worn by men in Somalia. It is closely related to the Omani Kuma as a result of the strong cultural ties between Somalia and Southern Arabia.

Description
The Kofia, a traditional headwear in Somalia, is a round headdress with no brim and a flat crown. It is intricately crafted from woven colored cloth adorned with embroidered patterns in a variety of hues. This cap features small circular perforations incorporated into the fabric, serving both as a decorative element and a functional design to promote airflow and ventilation.

As an essential component of the Somali traditional attire for men, the Kofia is commonly donned as part of everyday dressing, embodying cultural significance and heritage. Its widespread usage in Somalia underscores its cultural importance and sartorial relevance, highlighting its role as a symbol of identity and tradition within the Somali community.

In November 27, 1962 during his state visit to the White House, Prime Mininister of the Somali Republic, Dr. Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, presented a Kofia to President Kennedy as gift.

East African Kofi
The kofi is worn Swahili men in East Africa, especially in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, and north and coast of Mozambique along with the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo. It is also commonly worn in Oman and is popular in Comoros. The kofi is often worn with a dashiki, a colorful African shirt which is called a kitenge shirt in some regions of East Africa. In Uganda, the kofia is worn with the kanzu (a white or cream-coloured tunic) on informal occasions. Jomo Kenyatta, the first President of Kenya, was often photographed wearing a kofia.

Bargashia
In Zanzibar, and Northern Uganda, the Bargashia is a popular hat. This hat was named after Barghash bin Said of Zanzibar, the former Sultan of Zanzibar. Unlike the kofia, it is covered in embroidery and does not have pin holes. Like the kofia, the bargashia is worn with the kanzu.

Fez
The fez is also worn with the kanzu and dashiki in East Africa. The East African style has a tassel that hangs from the top of the hat. The red fez was introduced into the region by the military. During British colonial rule of East Africa, the red fez was worn by a regiment called the King's African Rifles. The fez is also worn in West Africa, but the West African version has a stem on top of the hat, and no tassel.

The Cape Malays in Cape Town, South Africa, whose menfolk wear fezzes, sometimes refer to the fez as a kofia (also spelt kofija).