Djellaba
Encyclopedia
Djellaba (Moroccan Arabic
, also known as Darija
(الدارجة)) (also djellabah, galabiya, jellāb(a)) is a traditional long, loose-fitting outer robe
with full sleeves worn in the Maghreb
region of North Africa
and in Arabic-speaking countries along the Mediterranean.
Traditionally djellabas are made of wool in different shapes and colors though nowadays lightweight textile djellabas have replaced wool djellabas in emigrant communities in the West, e.g. Paris, Brussels, et cetera. Among the Berbers
, or Imazighen, such as Imilchil
in the Atlas Mountains
, the color of a djellaba indicates the marital status (single or married) of the bearer—a dark brown djellaba indicating bachelorhood. Traditionally, djellabas reached down to the ground but the lightweight textile djellabas are somewhat slimmer and shorter. Married men wear a light-colored djellaba sometimes along with a red Fez hat and soft yellow slippers (balgha
, Arabic: بلغه, or babouche) weather permitting. The men's djellaba is generally baggy and plain. So-called women's djel(l)abas (abaya
"cloak" (Arabic: عباية ‘abāya[tu] or عباءة ‘abā'a[tu], plural عبايات ‘abāyā[tu])) are tighter and may sport elaborate decorative stitching in a variety of colors. Among the Imazighen women as well as men sometimes add a scarf
(tagelmust
sometimes called a cheche
) to the outfit.
Almost all djellabas of both styles (male or female) include a baggy hood called a "cob" that comes to a point at the back. The hood is of vital importance for both sexes, as it protects the wearer from the sun, and in earlier times was used as a defense against sand being blown into the wearer's face by strong desert winds. In colder climes, as in the mountains of Morocco and Algeria, it also serves the same function as a winter hat, preventing heat loss through the head and protecting the face from snow
and rain
. It is not uncommon for the roomy hood to be used as an informal pocket during times of nice weather; it can fit loaves of bread or bags of groceries.
Traditional djellabas are generally made of two types of material, cotton for summer wear and coarse wool for the winter. The wool is typically harvested from sheep living in the surrounding mountains.
The Islamic religion is also a key factor in the way that Moroccan people dress. The djellaba covers the whole body and is therefore an acceptable modest outfit for both men and women.
Moroccan Arabic
Moroccan Arabic is the variety of Arabic spoken in the Arabic-speaking areas of Morocco. For official communications, the government and other public bodies use Modern Standard Arabic, as is the case in most Arabic-speaking countries. A mixture of French and Moroccan Arabic is used in business...
, also known as Darija
Darija
Darija is the group of Arabic dialects spoken by Maghrebi Arabic speakers. It is only used for oral communication, with Modern Standard Arabic used for written communication...
(الدارجة)) (also djellabah, galabiya, jellāb(a)) is a traditional long, loose-fitting outer robe
Robe
A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. A robe is distinguished from a cape or cloak by the fact that it usually has sleeves. The English word robe derives from Middle English robe , borrowed from Old French robe , itself taken from the Frankish word *rouba , and is related to the word rob...
with full sleeves worn in the Maghreb
Maghreb
The Maghreb is the region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt. It includes five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara...
region of North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and in Arabic-speaking countries along the Mediterranean.
Traditionally djellabas are made of wool in different shapes and colors though nowadays lightweight textile djellabas have replaced wool djellabas in emigrant communities in the West, e.g. Paris, Brussels, et cetera. Among the Berbers
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
, or Imazighen, such as Imilchil
Imilchil
Imilchil is a small town in central Morocco, in the Atlas Mountains with a population of about 1858. It is located at an elevation of 2119 m in the valley of Assif Melloul . The area of Imilchil is home to the Ait Hdiddou tribe, belonging to the Ait Yafelman confederation, and the inhabitants...
in the Atlas Mountains
Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert...
, the color of a djellaba indicates the marital status (single or married) of the bearer—a dark brown djellaba indicating bachelorhood. Traditionally, djellabas reached down to the ground but the lightweight textile djellabas are somewhat slimmer and shorter. Married men wear a light-colored djellaba sometimes along with a red Fez hat and soft yellow slippers (balgha
Balgha
Balgha - also spelled balga, belgha, or belga - are heelless slippers made from leather. They are part of traditional dress in the Maghreb, especially in Morocco....
, Arabic: بلغه, or babouche) weather permitting. The men's djellaba is generally baggy and plain. So-called women's djel(l)abas (abaya
Abaya
The abaya "cloak" , sometimes also called an aba, is a simple, loose over-garment, essentially a robe-like dress, worn by some women in parts of the Islamic world including in Turkey, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula....
"cloak" (Arabic: عباية ‘abāya[tu] or عباءة ‘abā'a[tu], plural عبايات ‘abāyā[tu])) are tighter and may sport elaborate decorative stitching in a variety of colors. Among the Imazighen women as well as men sometimes add a scarf
Scarf
A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck, or near the head or around the waist for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons. They can come in a variety of different colours.-History:...
(tagelmust
Tagelmust
A tagelmust is an indigo dyed cotton garment with the appearance of both a veil and a turban. The cloth may exceed ten meters in length. It is worn mostly by Tuareg men, but is sometimes used by men in other neighbouring ethnic groups, such as the Hausa or Songhai...
sometimes called a cheche
Chéché
Chéché or Ché Ché is a village in the Gabú Region of northeastern Guinea-Bissau. It lies on the south of the Corubal River, to the south of Canjadude....
) to the outfit.
Almost all djellabas of both styles (male or female) include a baggy hood called a "cob" that comes to a point at the back. The hood is of vital importance for both sexes, as it protects the wearer from the sun, and in earlier times was used as a defense against sand being blown into the wearer's face by strong desert winds. In colder climes, as in the mountains of Morocco and Algeria, it also serves the same function as a winter hat, preventing heat loss through the head and protecting the face from snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
and rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
. It is not uncommon for the roomy hood to be used as an informal pocket during times of nice weather; it can fit loaves of bread or bags of groceries.
Traditional djellabas are generally made of two types of material, cotton for summer wear and coarse wool for the winter. The wool is typically harvested from sheep living in the surrounding mountains.
The Islamic religion is also a key factor in the way that Moroccan people dress. The djellaba covers the whole body and is therefore an acceptable modest outfit for both men and women.