Traditional dress

A capulana is a type of sarong commonly worn in Mozambique, but also in other parts of southern Africa. It is a 2 metre by 1 metre length of material. It can be worn as a wrap-around skirt, dress, or baby carrier on the back. It is regarded as a complete article of clothing.

Capulanas have been present in Mozambique since the Arab/Indian trade routes were established. It was obtained as a means of exchange from Indian traders. For starters, they were primarily available in three colors: red, white, and black. White represented ancestor protection, black represented evil, and red represented the spirit of war. After this point, Mozambicans preferred capulanas to the previously used animal skins.

Because of Africa's wildlife and environment, the most common early designs included suns, leopards, and lions, as well as the styles "ndjiti" (a white and red geometric design), "xithango" (plaid, with the word meaning "shield"), and "ximangelani" (wild birds spotted black and white). These styles dominated until the arrival of Portuguese colonial power. These early styles of capulana are mostly used by "tinyanga" today (witch doctors, spirit healers, "curandeiros"). In the early years of the capulana, a style with very small plaid patterns in blue and white was also popular.

Today, capulanas come in a variety of designs and colors. In Mozambique, the capulana is frequently paired with a headscarf and a tailored blouse. They are used for a variety of purposes, such as everyday casual wear, carrying heavy loads, and even carefully tailored for special occasions. Early traditional capulana colors and styles are highly sought after and command higher prices in markets today. They are highly valued and regarded as particularly beautiful in Mozambique.