World’s 20 Hottest & Coldest African Cities: Agbada Babanriga Jalabi – Why Africans and Arabs in Hot Continent like to Wear a Lot of Clothes

The Science Behind the Robe

It seems counterintuitive: why would anyone in a scorching desert or tropical climate choose to wear heavy, flowing robes instead of light, minimal clothing? The answer is a fascinating blend of science and cultural wisdom.

The Bedouin Secret

The most famous example comes from a classic study published in Nature. Researchers wondered why Bedouins in the Sinai Desert wear black robes. Conventional thinking would suggest black absorbs more heat. The study confirmed that a black robe does absorb significantly more solar radiation than a white one.

However, the crucial finding was that this extra heat never reached the skin. The secret lies in the robe’s design. Bedouin robes are worn loose and flowing. This creates two effects:

1. The Bellows Effect: As the wearer moves, the robe pumps air against the skin, increasing convective heat loss.

2. The Chimney Effect: Hot air rises between the robe and the body, drawing cooler air from below and creating a constant updraft that carries heat away.

Ultimately, the study concluded the heat gained by a person wearing a black robe is the same as one wearing a white robe—the black robe’s advantage in radiating heat back to the environment cancels out its higher absorption.

The Agbada and West African Attire

This principle extends to the flowing robes of West Africa, like the Yoruba Agbada. Similar to the Bedouin robe, its loose, voluminous design is key.

The Agbada is not as hot as it may appear. Its open weave patterns and loose fit allow for proper ventilation, creating a microclimate of air circulation that cools the body. In Ghana, experts advocate for these traditional garments over Western suits precisely because they are climate-appropriate, allowing for comfort in tropical temperatures.

Traditional West African attire is adapted for ventilation, airflow, and ease of movement.

Beyond the Robe: What People Do to Survive Extreme Heat

In hot climates, survival isn’t just about clothing; it’s a whole lifestyle.

Traditional Strategies:

• Climate-Responsive Fabrics: Natural, breathable fibers are paramount. In India, lightweight, handwoven cottons like muslin, khadi, and mulmul are celebrated for their breathability and ability to absorb sweat without trapping heat. Garments like the lungi, dhoti, and saree are loose and allow for unrestricted airflow. In Okinawa, the traditional Bashofu fabric, woven from banana plant fibers, is prized for its unique texture that keeps the wearer cool in the hot and humid summers. Its honeycomb structure effectively wicks sweat away from the skin.

• Loose Silhouettes: Baggy clothing, from the Bedouin robe to the Indian shalwar kameez, allows for air circulation and prevents the garment from clinging to the skin and trapping heat.

• Head Protection: Covering the head is crucial in intense sun, acting as a barrier against direct solar radiation.

Modern Strategies:

• Architecture: Buildings in hot climates are traditionally designed with thick walls for insulation, small windows to block the sun, and courtyards to promote airflow. Modern adaptations include air conditioning, which is energy-intensive, and reflective cool roofs.

• Urban Planning: Cities like those in the hottest capitals (e.g., Khartoum, Niamey, Bangkok) are finding ways to mitigate the urban heat island effect, where concrete and asphalt absorb and retain heat.

• Lifestyle Adjustments: In many hot regions, the day is structured around the heat. The midday siesta is a practical response to the intense sun, with work and activity resuming in the cooler evenings.

The World’s Hottest and Coldest Cities

The 20 Hottest Cities Year-Round

These cities are ranked by their high average annual temperatures, based on data from WorldAtlas and compiled by Seasia Stats.

The 20 Coldest Cities Year-Round

This list is compiled from data on average annual temperatures for major cities and includes well-known permanently cold locations.

Survival Strategies in the Cold

Surviving in cities like Yakutsk requires extreme adaptation.

Traditional and Modern Strategies:

• Clothing: Survival is about layers of specialized clothing, including heavy fur hats, coats, and boots to insulate and protect against frostbite.

• Infrastructure: Buildings are constructed on stilts to prevent the thawing of permafrost, which would cause structural damage.

• Vehicles: Car engines are often kept running continuously in winter to prevent them from freezing solid.

• Daily Routine: Life in Yakutsk is organized around managing the cold, with minimal time spent outdoors during the most brutal periods.

• Economy: The local economy, heavily reliant on diamond mining, supports the high cost of living in such an extreme climate.

• why do africans and arabs in hot continents like africa middle east asia like to wear more clothes