History Skirts Origin of Africans’ Kilts

The traditional dancers stride into the thatched-roof hut and start strutting their stuff to a cacophony of drums and whistles.

But these Africans are wearing red tartan kilts. What’s that all about?

No one knows for sure. And maybe that’s the way it should be.

The Pedi people, citing their oral history, say the use of kilts dates to 1879. They say that’s when the tribe lost a battle because its warriors thought kilted Scots leading a British army were women and held their fire until realizing their mistake too late.

Historians dismiss that as a myth. But they can’t agree on the tradition’s origin either. Some say kilts were adopted under British colonial rule. Others say they only date to World War II.

“The thing about African culture is nothing is written down,” said Lindy Prince, a spokeswoman for Lesedi Cultural Village. “It’s all word of mouth.”

In a strange way, the kilts worn by Pedi men in their ritual dances don’t look out of place at Lesedi, about a 40-minute drive from Johannesburg. Tourists can see four South African cultures, each living in a tiny community where they demonstrate crafts and traditions.

Sotho dancers kick high in red hotpants with red-and-white tassels hanging from waists and calves to the ground. Next come Zulus in animal hides and grasses, and Xhosa in headscarves of various designs and white cloths tied around their arms and legs.

Still, the Pedi draw the most whispers as they start their high-energy, high-volume dance, which leaves little doubt that these three Pedi men, at least, do wear something under their kilts.

In identical white short-sleeve dress shirts, green knee-high socks, well-worn sneakers and beaded belts from which dangle about a dozen golden tassels, they blow on whistles, backed by arrhythmic drum beats, horn playing and vocals by women in traditional dresses.

An attempt to mimic bagpipes, the sounds come together like a convoy of screaming European ambulances driving past a construction site.

And after it’s over they drink beer, although it’s a rough approximation since it’s made from sorghum and probably doesn’t taste a lot like McEwans’ 80 Shillings or Youngers’ Tartan.

Jim McAslan of the Scottish Tartan Society in Edinburgh, Scotland, was amazed to hear about the Pedi people, but not about the description of the sound they make.

“We say the same thing about bagpipes: One bagpipe a half-mile away is good,” he said.

McAslan said he was unaware of any group outside Scotland, other than expatriates or a few Gurkhas, from time to time, who wear kilts.

“I never have heard of anything like this before,” he said, excitedly asking for as much information as he could get.

McAslan said that kilts date back to the 1600s and that although they’re not worn widely today, many Scottish men have them.

“If you don’t own one, you will hire one for weddings or such,” he said.

The description of the overall Pedi costume didn’t sound too out of place with tradition.

“As far as we’re concerned, you can wear any shirt you like,” he said. “Brogues are the usual shoes, but I guess you could wear anything. Now, the bead belt, I think that is very African.”