Addressing the possible origin of Somali “Jouke”

[Yami]

Now that this article of clothing has started trending all over Somali social media, I’m going to lay out a hypothesis I’ve had for quite awhile now concerning it’s origins.


I’ve seen users attribute it to the Omani Jouke. although they do wear a variant of it themselves i don’t believe it’s origins have anything to do with them. Their sphere of influence in Somalia never expanded beyond the Banaadiri coast yet we have examples from every clan affiliation out there that this cloak was widespread.


this jacket is also found in Sudan and I believe one user even posted Chadian sheikhs wearing them.

Now what empire in history controlled from Sudan to Oman and demanded tribute paid in tax from the pre Islamic inhabitants of Somalia…

You see where I’m going with this now? I think it’s Axum.

Now lay down the pitch forks y’all. Habeshas actually still wear this cloak. It’s called the kaba (lol) and it’s very pretty. Below I’ll post some examples.

Habeshas have never credited this clothing to anyone but themselves and from the geophysical span this mysterious cloak is found… I believe I found the missing link finally.

Reer Cush @Khaemwaset @Internet Nomad @Cush we just took a huge W. The Somali “Jouke” is not only our culture for over 1k years it’s also African and Cushitic.

 

[Cartan Boos]

It's called jubbad sxb

 

[Internet Nomad]

Unbridled scholarly work.

Somalis have been wearing this attire since the 9th century. This was recorded by the Chinese during that period.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/3087496
Page 6

 

[Farah717]

It should be shortened and sleeveless, just like a cloak. Would look much better,

 

[Kizaru]

They should make a white version especially for the weather back home

 

[attash]

The kaba is sleeveless and has different designs. There may have been some inspiration, but I don't see how this is the direct source.

 

[NidarNidar]

The Horn and Arabia have influenced each other for millennia.

 

[Yami]

The kaba is sleeveless and has different designs. There may have been some inspiration, but I don't see how this is the direct source.

I believe there were veristion drift over the centuries but it’s origins now seem pretty firmly habesha. I’ll drop a Twitter thread on this theory later today just got back from the gym I wanna relax a bit loool

 

[Three Moons]

Stop attributing anything of worth to a foreign source, especially to an ancient empire with a phantom influence on Somalia that might not even be accurate, and is totally based on secondary conjecture and theories. There are similarities here and there with other groups’ attires in the wider Red Sea and Indian Ocean region but everything shown below was a clear distinct style of attire only worn by the Somali elite of the past;

 

[Internet Nomad]

Stop attributing anything of worth to a foreign source, especially to an ancient empire with a phantom influence on Somalia that might not even be accurate, and is totally based on secondary conjecture and theories. There are similarities here and there with other groups’ attires in the wider Red Sea and Indian Ocean region but everything shown below was a clear distinct style of attire only worn by the Somali elite of the past;

View attachment 337923

I like the one on the left with the belt. It tapers out the figure and looks less like a standard thobe.

 

[World]

I’m gonna wait a bit before buying one

When it gets very popular and is worn by a lot of somalis is when i’ll get one

 

[Bahal]

Clearly middle eastern but who gives a shit, history is malleable.

We wuz it into existence jaalleyaal

 

[Khaem]

Now that this article of clothing has started trending all over Somali social media, I’m going to lay out a hypothesis I’ve had for quite awhile now concerning it’s origins.


I’ve seen users attribute it to the Omani Jouke. although they do wear a variant of it themselves i don’t believe it’s origins have anything to do with them. Their sphere of influence in Somalia never expanded beyond the Banaadiri coast yet we have examples from every clan affiliation out there that this cloak was widespread.


this jacket is also found in Sudan and I believe one user even posted Chadian sheikhs wearing them.

Now what empire in history controlled from Sudan to Oman and demanded tribute paid in tax from the pre Islamic inhabitants of Somalia…

You see where I’m going with this now? I think it’s Axum.

Now lay down the pitch forks y’all. Habeshas actually still wear this cloak. It’s called the kaba (lol) and it’s very pretty. Below I’ll post some examples.








View attachment 337892
View attachment 337893
View attachment 337894


Habeshas have never credited this clothing to anyone but themselves and from the geophysical span this mysterious cloak is found… I believe I found the missing link finally.

Reer Cush @Khaemwaset @Internet Nomad @Cush we just took a huge W. The Somali “Jouke” is not only our culture for over 1k years it’s also African and Cushitic.

Cushitic excellence f*ck these Arab begs always crediting shit to themselves I see it all the time with countless posts

 

[Khaem]

The Horn and Arabia have influenced each other for millennia.

Yes we are one race after all

 

[Khaem]

I’m gonna wait a bit before buying one

When it gets very popular and is worn by a lot of somalis is when i’ll get one

We need chunks and sharky to wear one then you'll see every abdi stepping out in a Jouke in UK

 

[𐒔𐒙𐒇𐒕𐒛𐒐200]

We need chunks and sharky to wear one then you'll see every abdi stepping out in a Jouke in UK

Yes, just like how other Africans promote there culture.

 

[CABDULWALI XASAN.]

Mhm just what I needed

 

[Internet Nomad]

We need chunks and sharky to wear one then you'll see every abdi stepping out in a Jouke in UK

It gets hyped up like the somali restaurant and then you hear everyone saying they will get the “somali thobe” this eid. Somali business start opening left and right to cater to this new found demand. Its revived back home and becomes the predominant thobe type. Business men and politicians drop the suits and return back to the regal look as an outward sign of wadanimo.

Cultural Revolution ensues.​

 

[The alchemist]

No. You're trying to shoehorn things that have no derived relations. The Habashi one is not similar to the Somali and Sudanese. The latter have the same style, more or less.

I have posted this before.

These are Sudanese:

They are like the Somali ones, even got the same wheels:

This is from the 1930s, iirc. In some religious ceremony in Axum.

The Habashi one is of nobility fashion and used to look different. It was never common wear at all. This practice which Habash uses for marriage is new. The Somali one did not derive from that style. The kings used to have it look different too. Their style seems more like an outer-wear cloak.

For the record, I would rather wear anything the Omanis made (although I don't think it was Omani) than put on or associated with the wear of the Christian nobilities that were the enemies of my ancestors, like a disgraced oblivious fool. I do think the Somali and the Sudani one is probably an altered off-shoot of some type of MENA; it could have been further developed in Sudan or somewhere else, even Somali, which would make it regional and not really derived. But if it is old, which it likely is, then it makes sense. We've had trade with the Sudanese since the Nubian days and cultural influence could take place through economic flow and other political aspects.

Either way, it looks different, and it was historically distinct from what the Habash kings wore. Moreover, there is no evidence they sent it to us. Remember, we were practically enemies and would not put on what they wore, especially when the Habash nobility saw itself as 1:1 with Christendom. Muslims would not put on what their enemies associated with a foreign religion and neither do I think the Abbisinyan nobility just sold such clothing to their enemies either, given that such clothes were not ubiquitous in their own lands either. It was never mass-produced in Abissinya. Those were very tailored and specifically designed for an elite few probably tied to the Abbisinyan lineage, very emblematic of their elite lineage structures. You might point to Oromos, and add that they wore it too. Well, the Oromos of Abissinya were heavily mixed with the Habash. The tribal chieftains on the peripheries that were undermined by the Habash kingdom worse something else.

There was a big cultural divide between Habash and the Islamic civilization of the Horn of Africa. However, the lowland Cushites were heavily influenced by the Somalis, heavily acculturated on the attire front.

The common people wore white-robed clothing:

 

[mah14]

I like the one on the left with the belt. It tapers out the figure and looks less like a standard thobe.

Yes, it is not a dress that was brought from the stores new, but a dress that was tailored by tailors, and that is why it fits him very well