Best African shirts for men that blend traditional prints with modern styles

African shirts for men, like the Ankara long sleeve, Dashiki collar shirt, Adire shirt, and more, have a cultural history. Designers have fitted these timeless designs with modern tailoring techniques, like slimmer fits and collars, to make them exceptionally trendy.

Key takeaways

• African shirts, including Ankara, Kente, and Dashiki, are suitable for everyday wear and formal events.
• Most African shirts are made of natural fabrics like cotton, raffia, and linen, which make them breathable and comfortable.
• Modern tailoring details feature mandarin collars, slim cuts, and embroidery that add to the African style.

Best African shirts for men

From stylish short-sleeve to elegant long-sleeve, African traditional shirt designs have something for every occasion. Here are some of the best African print shirts for men with cultural heritage and a modern edge.

1. Ankara long sleeve

This shirt is ideal for men who want to blend traditional African fabric with modern-fitting designs. It is made from high-quality cotton Ankara print popularised in West and Central African countries. It is perfect for formal events.

Read also

15 low-maintenance short natural haircuts for black females

2. Kente long-sleeve shirt

Kente originates from Ghana. This is one of the stylish long-sleeve African shirts for men who want a royal touch. Modern tailoring features slimmer fits, structured collars, and minimalist cuts, making it suitable for formal and casual settings.

3. Dashiki collar shirt

Originating from West Africa, the Dashiki is an iconic traditional attire. It is loved for its vibrant colours, hand embroidery, and loose, comfortable fit. Traditionally, it features a standard V-shaped neckline, but modern designers have reimagined the Dashiki with structured collars.

4. Adire shirt

Adire is a traditional West African fabric art famous among the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria. A striking indigo tone and symbolic patterns characterise it.

Modern Adire shirts have minimalist cuts. They are designed for casual outings, creative workspaces, and cultural events. The breathable Adire attire fabric keeps you cool in warm climates and pairs well with neutral trousers or denim.

Read also

27 fashionable chitenge dresses for young ladies in Zambia

5. Embroidered Boubou shirt

Boubou is a traditional African garment worn by men across West Africa. It is made from cotton or embroidered damask and is cut wide and loose. It is associated with status and occasionally worn with matching trousers and a tunic on special occasions. Modern designers incorporate long sleeves, lighter fabrics, and cuts, making them adaptable for everyday wear.

6. Kitenge shirt

Kitenge fabric is popular in East, Central, and West Africa. The best short-sleeve African shirt styles are usually of Kitenge fabric. It’s characterised by colourful fabric with various patterns and designs. Traditionally worn for special occasions, it has now found its place in everyday wear.

Today, Kitenge shirts feature slim-fit button-downs, Cuban collars, and short-sleeve African resort shirts. They have balanced the striking prints with minimal tailoring details, making them easy to pair with shorts, jeans, or trousers.

7. Batik shirt

Due to its handcrafted patterns, the Batik shirt bridges tradition and modernity. The Batik dyeing technique is popular in West, South, and East Africa. It uses wax-resisting methods to create patterns in rich, layered colours.

Read also

These dark academia aesthetic outfits will inspire your fashion sense

Batik is popularly used to make relaxed short-sleeved African shirts for men. These shirts offer a laidback, beach-friendly vibe and can be paired with shorts and sandals.

8. Short-sleeve Agbada shirt

Agbada is traditionally a flowing robe worn by the Yoruba people of West Africa. This African attire for men comes with an inner cloth and a form of bottom wear called Shokoto. The short-sleeve Agbada shirt is distinct and an excellent choice for evening outings, smart-casual events, weddings, or dinner parties.

9. Shweshwe shirt

This shirt is made from a refined printed-dyed cotton fabric that blends South African tradition and modern fashion. It originates from the Eastern Cape, particularly the Xhosa culture. The Shweshwe fabric is recognised for its intricate geometric patterns and indigo-dyed base. However, modern versions come in various colours.

10. Bogolan shirt

Originally from Mali, the Bogolan fabric is hand-woven and dyed using fermented mud to create geometric patterns in warm, natural tones. Modern styles of the Bogolan Shirt include details like utility pockets, snap buttons, and clean collars. They give both an urban and a cultural heritage vibe.

Read also

Top 15 most expensive purse brands in the world in 2021

11. Embroidered Aso Oke shirt

The embroidered Aso Oke shirt offers a luxurious blend of Yoruba heritage and modern, stylish designs. In Yoruba, Aso Oke means top cloth. It’s a hand-woven fabric traditionally reserved for special occasions like weddings, festivals, and chieftaincy ceremonies. Its rich texture, metallic threads, and styled patterns give it an outstanding and ceremonial look.

12. Kikoy shirt

The Kikoy shirt blends vibrant coastal heritage with a relaxed feel of iconic Kenyan culture. The Kikoy fabric is traditionally hand-woven from pure cotton and features colourful stripes inspired by the Indian Ocean's lively spirit. Kikoy is known for its softness and light material, making it ideal for warm weather.

13. Kuba shirt

The Kuba shirt is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has a striking fusion of traditional artistry and cultural style. Kuba cloth is hand-woven from raffia palm fibers and decorated with bold patterns. The Kuba shirt features minimalist cuts that allow expression of African heritage and craftsmanship.

Read also

What are chinos and how should men wear them?

14. Mudcloth shirt

Known as Bogolanfini in Mali, a Mudcloth shirt blends West African tradition with the clean lines of modern fashion. Mudcloth is traditionally hand-woven and dyed using fermented mud. It has distinctive geometric patterns in natural tones, such as black, brown, and cream.

Modern Mudcloth shirts have relaxed short-sleeve designs and a collarless style, perfect for creative workplaces, weekend wear, and cultural settings.

Final word

From the Adire patterns to Kitenge prints and the earthy Mudcloth, African shirts for men carry the legacy of craftsmanship, culture, and identity. Modern tailoring, such as innovative cuts and additions like collars, has transformed them into globally relevant wardrobe fashions.

Tuko.co.ke has published an article about the trending African dress styles. African dress styles have been a top choice for fashionable and adaptable dresses for decades due to their unique and colourful patterns and cultural significance. Trending African dress styles reflect elegance and modernity. Read this article for ideas.

Source: TUKO.co.ke