PHOTOS: Five countries where men put on skirts

The picture of Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama after he landed in Nairobi for the United Nations Conference on Tuesday 29 May had Kenyans on Twitter talking.

The Prime Minister’s made Kenyans question his wardrobe choice, a skirt and sandals. However, wearing the skirt did not start with him.

Men wearing skirts started way back before women began putting them on. The piece of cloth around the man’s waist has been there for centuries and it’s a symbol of masculinity.

Many of us are accustomed to the idea of Scotland men wearing skirts, there are several countries around the world that do that.

Scotland

Men wearing skirts (kilts) in Scotland is not anything odd. This clothing is mostly won during official occasions and weddings but today men even put them on while going for a stroll.

Fiji

Men in Fiji started putting on skirts (sulu) not so long ago. This ‘culture’ was embraced in the 21st century after they were colonized by the British. Fiji men began wearing the sulus to emphasize their difference from the Gentiles as a sign of Christian Faith.

Greece

The Greece skirt (fustanella) was a sign of a specific manhood back in the nineteenth century. The fustanella became part of the military attire and are even a ‘tourist attraction ‘as most people take picture with the soldiers when they visit the country.

Burma

Burma which is today known as Myanmar is located in the Sothern East part of Asia. Here, men put on a traditional men’s skirt (paschou) which is 2 meters long and 0.8 meters wide. The men tie them around their hips with a knot on the belly and are very comfortable to walk in.

Bhutan

Also located in South Asia, men in Bhutan put on skirts known as ‘Gho’ and are usually a formal where. This attire is worn with socks pulled up to the knees and a special scarf known as Kani.