Kikoi

The kikoi is made of cotton and patterns are woven rather than dyed into the fabric.^[1] As with all sarongs, it is a single piece of cloth which is wrapped around the waist, and rolled over outwards a couple of times. Outside of their intended use as a sarong, they can be used as a sling to hold a baby, towel, or a head wrap.

The kikoi emerged from cultural exchange between east Africans and their trading partners from nations like Somalia centuries ago.^[2][3] The kikoi is said to have come to Kenya from Somalia.^[4] The city of Barawa was famous for its weaving of kikoi.^[5] A type of kikoi was called banadir, a name derived from its origin in the textile centers of Somalia's Banadir coast, a region historically renowned for its textile trade.^[6][7] The garment remains a popular souvenir for tourists visiting Kenya.^[8]