Burnous
Long woolen cloak with a hood, worn in North Africa
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Origin
In antiquity this garment was referred to as byruss Numidicus meaning "Numidian hooded cloak" and was mentioned as such in the Expositio totius mundi et gentium. In the Maghreb, the colour of the burnous may be white, beige, or dark brown. The burnous was worn by the Numidians. There are rock engravings near Sigus that attest the existence of the burnous in the ancient times and that it was worn by the Numidians. Additionally, further examples can be observed in funerary monuments located in the area of Tigzirt.
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Cultural significance
In Algeria
During the French colonial period in Algeria (1830–1962), the burnous became a symbol of identity for Algerians. Many Algerians, including those who were not nomadic, began wearing the burnous as a way to assert their cultural heritage and resist French influence.
The burnous was also worn during the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962), both as a symbol of resistance and as a practical garment for guerrilla fighters operating in the mountains and deserts.
Today, the burnous remains an important symbol of Algerian culture and identity. It is often worn on special occasions, such as weddings and religious festivals, and is sometimes used as a costume in traditional dance performances. It also forms part of the ceremonial uniform worn by the mounted cavalry detachment of the Algerian Republican Guard.
Burnous in other cultures
The burnous became a distinctive part of the uniform of the French Army of Africa's spahi cavalry, recruited in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. It was also sometimes worn unofficially by officers or soldiers of other units in North Africa. The white burnous remains part of the parade uniform of the one remaining spahi regiment of the French Army: the 1st Spahi Regiment.
Other names for a burnous include albornoz, sbernia, sberna, and bernusso.