The Aku docket en lappa print outfit

The Print outfit is the signature costume of the Krios of Sierra Leone. The Krios are an ethnic group living in Sierra Leone and are descendants of different groups of formerly enslaved people who were resettled by the British in what was called the “Province of Freedom”. They came from Britain, northern American states through Nova Scotia, Jamaica, and different African countries. They settled in Freetown between 1787 and 1885. The Krio culture is therefore a mixture of different people from different parts of the world.

The Krio’s signature costume was the Kabaslot and Kotoku; a hybrid of Ghanaian and Victorian era clothing styles. Kabaslot and Kotoku in Akan means dress and sock. AfroAmerican, Afro Caribbean, and British Styles also influence the dress. The Kabaslot; a unique hand-cut embroidery fashion, was greatly influenced by the rich embroidered dresses of the wives of the slave owners. Slaves were given these dresses by the wives as an acknowledgement of their hard work. But the enslaved were resilient and tenacious to maintain their cultural identity. They transformed these gift dresses to reflect their culture.

While the traditional kabaslot was a frock, there was need to alter this to suit Muslim Krios, the Akus, who are descendants of Liberated Africans who were resettled in the Freetown colony. So a midthigh print dress – the docket – is worn over a wrapper – the lappa in line with the more conservative mode of dressing of Muslim women.

This photo shows a woman wearing such an outfit and lace fabric has been used to give it a modern look.