Burnous
A burnous (
Origin
The word burnous (
In antiquity this garment was referred to as byruss Numidicus meaning "Numidian hooded cloak" and was mentioned as such in the Expositio totius mundi et gentium.[11] In the Maghreb, the colour of the burnous may be white, beige, or dark brown. There are rock engravings near Sigus that attest the existence of the burnous in the ancient times and that it was worn by the Numidians and inhabitants of the Arabian Desert.[12][13]
Cultural significance
In Algeria
During the French colonial period in Algeria (1830-1962), the burnous became a symbol of identity for Algerians. Many Algerians, including those who were not nomadic, began wearing the burnous as a way to assert their cultural heritage and resist French influence.
The burnous was also worn during the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962), both as a symbol of resistance and as a practical garment for guerrilla fighters operating in the mountains and deserts.[14]
Today, the burnous remains an important symbol of Algerian culture and identity. It is often worn on special occasions, such as weddings and religious festivals, and is sometimes used as a costume in traditional dance performances.[15][16] It also forms part of the ceremonial uniform worn by the mounted cavalry detachment of the
Burnous in other cultures
The burnous became a distinctive part of the uniform of the French Army of Africa's spahi cavalry, recruited in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.[17] It was also sometimes worn unofficially by officers or soldiers of other units in North Africa. The white burnous remains part of the parade uniform of the one remaining spahi regiment of the French Army: the 1st Spahi Regiment.[18]
Other names for a burnous include albornoz, sbernia, sberna, and bernusso.
See also
References
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- ^ CHANCEL, Ausone de (1858). D'une immigration de noirs libres en Algérie (in French). Bastide. p. 40.
- ISBN 2-7233-0421-3. Date:02-08-2016.
- – via journals.openedition.org.
- ISBN 978-1-5275-5569-3.
- ^ Georges Marçais, جورج مارسي (2016-08-10). Georges Marçais Le Costume Musulman D' Alger (in Arabic).
- ISBN 978-90-04-49162-5.
- ^ Goodholme, Todd S. (1889). Goodholme's Domestic Cyclopaedia of Practical Information. C. Scribner's Sons. p. 56.
- ^ Hossfeld, C. (1877). New French Dictionary. C. Scholl.
- ^ Moser, Gustav von; Heiden, E. (1897). Köpnickerstrasse 120 (in German). D. C. Heath & Company. p. 146.
- ^ Wilson, Andrew. "Archaeological evidence for textile production and dyeing in Roman North Africa." Purpureae Vestes. Textiles y tintes del Mediterráneo en época romana (2004): 155-164.
- ^ Ancient Civilizations of Africa. G. Mokhtar. UNESCO.
- ^ Rome depuis sa fondation jusqu'a la chute de l'empire par Mary Lafon. Mary-Lafon. Furne.
- ^ Barbet, Charles. Au pays des burnous: impressions et croquis d'Algérie. Mallebay, 1898.
- ^ "The Burnous in Algerian Memory and History" by James McDougall, published in the Journal of North African Studies (Volume 13, Issue 1, 2008).
- ^ Fisquet, Honoré (1842). Histoire de l'Algérie depuis les temps anciens jusqu'à nos jours, etc (in French). A la Direction. pp. 89–92.
- ^ Montagon, Pierre. L'Armee d'Afrique. De 1830 a l'independence de l'Algerie. p. 94. ISBN 978-2-7564-0574-2.
- ISBN 978-2-35250-195-4.
External links
- Media related to Burnus at Wikimedia Commons