A black or dark-colored loose robe worn by some Muslim women, especially in East Africa, covering the entire body.
From Arabic 'abaya' or Swahili adoption of similar terms. The word entered English primarily through travel literature about East Africa, particularly Tanzania and Kenya, where the garment is commonly worn.
The 'buibui' demonstrates how textile traditions carry identity and cultural meaning—wearing one signals religious practice, regional identity, and often generational knowledge passed between mothers and daughters.
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