This poster used to be posted at international arrivals at Kamuzu International Airport, informing women of the dress code in Malawi back in the old days, up to about 15 years ago.
Modesty was crucial.
Things have changed quite a bit since then, but modesty is still important, with the advice given that women do not show too much above the knee. Actually, you will still see many women wearing a pair of trousers that they cover up with a chitenche (African Printed fabric) wrap.
There is even a rumor that immigration officers would go through suitcases and remove trousers or skirts deemed too short!
Something not mentioned on the poster was that men had to have short hair.... Rumors fly that immigration officers would keep a pair of scissors to snip men's hair if it was deemed too long to adhere to the expected short hair rule.
Thank goodness things have changed a bit since then, although with the variety of the colorful chitenche fabric it wouldn't be too much of a burden to have to wrap up... I still believe it would be the black abaya I had to wear for two years while living in Saudi Arabia :-)
Love this poster!
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