The keffiyeh is often misinterpreted as a symbol of violence. [Picture: Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images]
Too often (mis)interpreted as a symbol of violence, the keffiyeh – much like the watermelon – is a bold statement of resistance. It is a symbol of faith and resilience.
Wearing the headgear, originally a Middle Eastern garment, has become a symbol of resistance at a time when the Palestinian people are under threat. Genocide ongoing, it is more important than ever to highlight the fabrics that make Palestinian culture.
That is what Salaamedia presenter Ayesha Kajee did when she brought on screen Firdoze Bulbulia. The latter, an award-winning film and theatre producer, was excited to explain the significance of the keffiyeh in today’s time.
“It’s important for us to realise that whilst we wear it as a fashion item, just the wearing of it is a revolutionary sign,” said Bulbulia. “It is something that we are saying in the way that we walk, talk and dress.”
The story of the keffiyeh starts in arid 7th century Kufa, Iraq. Today, it is a symbol of Palestinian resilience, but sometimes misunderstood (especially in the West) to be a symbol of violence.
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A statement
Wearing the keffiyeh while Palestinian culture is being crushed is a bold statement to the world. More than a symbol of faith and resilience, it is an assertion of solidarity with an oppressed people.
Bulbulia relates her experience wearing the keffiyeh in public places. Bombastic side-eyes abound, but her message is to be relayed no matter what people think.
“In some places, if you walk in with the keffiyeh, some people already get really quite uptight and they don’t know how to react. What I have been doing is to wear it all the time when I’m in a public space, even if I’m doing a red carpet.”
But a defiant Bulbulia is not reluctant to make her statement. “It is my resistance stance. It’s to say: ‘you will deal with it’,” she said.
She underlined the importance of being conscious of what we wear. There are many layers to our dress, and a message of solidarity can easily be conveyed through the humble – and often misunderstood – keffiyeh.
“It’s a silent resistance. It’s a form of revolution. When we wear something, we are intentional. It’s not just you’re wearing it because it’s fashion; you’re wearing it because you are saying something and people need to read deeper,” she added.
Watch the full conversation about the keffiyeh here.
