The Colors of Garmasis
The colors of Garmasis, red, yellow, blue, and white, are vivid in Sudanese imagination and carry significant symbolic meanings connected to life and cultural identity. The choice and arrangement of colors vary according to Sudanese tribes, particularly those living along the Nile, reflecting local traditions and heritage.
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(1) The Golden Base of Garmasis.
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(2) The Colored (Red) Base of Garmasis.
The colors of Garmasis, red, yellow, blue, and white, are vivid in Sudanese imagination and carry significant symbolic meanings connected to life and cultural identity. The choice and arrangement of colors vary according to Sudanese tribes, particularly those living along the Nile, reflecting local traditions and heritage.
The Garmasis textile, made from smooth, luxurious silk, features a solid golden base with stripes interwoven in blue, white, and red, harmoniously radiating from a central axis. The stripe widths vary and are mirrored around this central line, creating a dynamic sense of rhythm and visual balance. The second system consists of a colored base, predominantly red, with evenly spaced stripes of equal width in white, blue, red, and yellow. Horizontal geometric motifs, including triangles and circles, are embroidered with shiny, silky threads in vibrant blue and yellow, adding texture and contrast. Along the horizontal repetitions of golden threads extend downward, producing a rhythmic composition that highlights both the technical mastery and the cultural symbolism embedded in the textile’s design.
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(3) Garmasis cloth showing the vertical integration of the golden and colored (red) bases.
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(4) Garmasis cloth showing the the horizontal repetitions of golden threads extend downward, with triangles and circles embroidered across the surface.
In the Sudanese Jertic wedding ceremony, the bride enters alongside the groom, wearing the Garmasis cloth as a veil. The groom typically wears white or light-colored Jellabiya, with a scarf or shawl wrapped across his chest in an X-shape, often featuring red patterns. The Garmasis is worn to reflect the vibrant colors that highlight the bride’s black skin tone and complement the red silk gown worn underneath the “Thoub,” reinforcing the traditional identity of Sudanese women. During the ceremony, the groom initially sees her face, after which the cloth covers the bride, reflecting its spiritual meaning of protection. The bride exudes a sense of modern royalty, guided by the most respected women of her family through each phase of the ritual. Traditional drums, called Dalooka, accompany songs sung at the beginning of the ceremony, setting the rhythm for the event. The bride wears ceremonial items in a specific order, passed down through generations, creating an appearance reminiscent of a monarch.
Research Question:
“How do the colors of Garmasis preserve cultural memory and reflect the identity of Sudanese communities along the Nile?”
Keywords: Garmasis; Textile Colors; Color Symbolism; Tribal variations.