The Keffiyeh: From Bedouin Tradition to Palestinian Resistance Symbol

A few days ago, the local media reported that Foreign Minister Ian Borg and Minister for Culture Owen Bonnici participated in a local political protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people. As a gesture of support, both ministers wore the Keffiyeh—known in Arabic as the Kuffiyyah—a black-and-white shawl traditionally associated with Palestinian identity. On this occasion, the ministers draped the shawl over their shoulders rather than wearing it as a turban, as is customary among some Arab men.

While the Kuffiyyah is widely recognised today as a symbol of Palestinian resistance and solidarity, its historical origins are less commonly understood. Like many symbols linked to national or cultural identity, its history reflects a diverse and evolving significance. Initially, the Kuffiyyah was not exclusive to Palestinians. Instead, it was a practical garment traditionally worn by Arab Bedouins, particularly those living in regions stretching from the Iraqi city of Kufa to the Nile Valley. Bedouins used the Kuffiyyah for centuries to protect themselves from the harsh desert climate. The term “Keffiyeh,” more accurately rendered as Kuffiyyah in Arabic, is believed to derive from Kufa, an ancient city in present-day Iraq.

Until the 1920s, the Kuffiyyah primarily served as a functional head covering among nomadic Bedouin men, distinguishing them from settled villagers. It transformed into a political and cultural symbol during the 1936–1939 Arab Revolt in Palestine. During this period of anti-colonial resistance against British rule, Arabs in Palestine adopted the Kuffiyyah as a unifying emblem of defiance. Many used it to cover their faces, as a practical measure to shield their identities and as a symbol of collective resistance to British authorities and policies.