Where are these girls looking?
Shiromani
Sana Ashraf, 2007
Acrylic on canvas - 596х401
Moroni, Comoro Islands
Acrylic on canvas - 596х401
Moroni, Comoro Islands
How does the traveller see it?
(Fragment of a post from a Facebook page)
Where are these ten pairs of women’s eyes looking?
These girls from Anjouan – one of the Comoro Islands – are trying to hide from prying eyes, and they are wearing what the locals call “shiromani”. Six squares of linen are sewn together to make the garment. Who coined the term “shiromani” for this garment made of cotton, both a dress and a hijab? There are two theories on the origin of the word “shiromani”:
Theory #1: “shi” in the local dialect means “in the manner of”. Thus “in the manner of the Romanis” or, more bluntly, “gypsy style”.
Theory #2: There once lived an Anjouan princess by the name of Rumani (in the 16th century, princesses’ real names were kept secret).
According to legend, the islanders saw Rumani as a beautiful, mythical and unattainable woman. Her mother crafted drapery in the colors of the Anjouan Kingdom flag (red and white) by stitching handerkerchiefs together; the princess could then hide behind these drapes. When girls of the island were getting married, they would opt for the style of their favorite princess. Thus “Shi Romani” or “in the manner of Rumani”. In any case, you can’t have a wedding without a bit of cotton –– no matter what country you’re in.
These girls from Anjouan – one of the Comoro Islands – are trying to hide from prying eyes, and they are wearing what the locals call “shiromani”. Six squares of linen are sewn together to make the garment. Who coined the term “shiromani” for this garment made of cotton, both a dress and a hijab? There are two theories on the origin of the word “shiromani”:
Theory #1: “shi” in the local dialect means “in the manner of”. Thus “in the manner of the Romanis” or, more bluntly, “gypsy style”.
Theory #2: There once lived an Anjouan princess by the name of Rumani (in the 16th century, princesses’ real names were kept secret).
According to legend, the islanders saw Rumani as a beautiful, mythical and unattainable woman. Her mother crafted drapery in the colors of the Anjouan Kingdom flag (red and white) by stitching handerkerchiefs together; the princess could then hide behind these drapes. When girls of the island were getting married, they would opt for the style of their favorite princess. Thus “Shi Romani” or “in the manner of Rumani”. In any case, you can’t have a wedding without a bit of cotton –– no matter what country you’re in.