CAMPUS | FEB. 21, 2024
Hijabfest 2024 at Howard!
Glow Gang University Representative greets line. Photo by Morghan Langston
By Autumn Coleman
In the floral-decorated Armour J. Blackburn Ballroom, Hijabfest took place on Saturday, Feb. 17. Muslim women of different races and ethnicities gathered on Howard University’s campus to engage in meaningful conversations about the hijab, their journey in the Muslim faith, and fashion.
Hosted by the Howard Muslim Students’ Association, the festival included guest speakers, dinner, vendors, a modesty workshop, an education panel, and a fashion show. The event was the collaborative effort of many student organizations and the Muslim community in the DMV and beyond.
Between the 11 vendors, attendees had the opportunity to browse through a variety of products. Accessories, clothing, candles, and cups were sold with many options marketed to their primary clientele: Muslim women.
“This is my first time at Hijab Fest,” said Samirah, the owner of Bodi by Samirah; a vendor at the event. “But I went to school here. I didn’t end up finishing here, but I met my husband here.”
Hijabfest attendees take selfies to commemorate the event.
Located in Lanham, MD, Body by Samirah sells handmade vegan body products and henna tattoos. Many attendees were already familiar with her products and returned to the booth to restock.
Amongst time for fellowship, shopping, and prayer; the event’s main purpose was the discussion of Muslim women’s journey with wearing the hijab. Many spoke on the struggles and joys of wearing a hijab.
“I lost a lot of friends, like people acted like they didn’t know me,” said Fajr Delane referring to when she wore her hijab in middle school. “But I really developed the principles of Allah and really started to become myself. So to me, it’s a personal journey. It hasn’t been easy but it's the most rewarding thing.”
Women taking the time to pray during a break.
Many expressed that during their journey wearing a hijab, there wasn’t enough representation to make them feel confident enough to wear it in public.
“When I left my country of mostly Muslim, hijab-wearing women, I went from being a majority to a minority,” shared the Gambia native, Khadijah Ceesay, the event’s host and Howard alum.
Muslim women of all ages were in attendance. From children and college students to mothers and grandmothers, multiple generations were allowed to be a part of Hijabfest 2024. Mothers, daughters, and friends gathered together to soak up the sense of community environment created by the festival.
Sophia and Cam, two friends, traveled from Harlem and Brooklyn, New York to Hijab Fest. “I heard about this event through a Facebook group I’m a part of for Black Muslim women,” said Cam. “I was just thinking about how this would be good for my daughter. She wears the hijab too and it would’ve been good for her to see everybody wearing theirs.”
Hakeemah Cummings, a Muslim stylist, presented a slideshow of different brands with products aimed at making hijab fashion more accessible and comfortable. Her presentation included information about the hoodie hijab, a hijab bodysuit, and a plus-size brand for modest fashion.
Hijab Fest’s agenda for the night concluded with a fashion show and talk with “The Village Auntie”, a Muslim social media influencer. The fashion show displayed the latest trends in hijab fashion with billowy fabrics and scarves, as students showed off their model walks in the ballroom to the cheers of the crowd.
Angelica Lindsey-Ali, also known as “The Village Auntie”, has a following of over 60,000 on Instagram. In her content, she discusses topics important to Muslim women such as sensuality, spirituality, and self.
“The hijab is a symbol of my personal connection with my faith,” said Lindsey-Ali. “It’s a visible expression of my devotion and a source of empowerment in embracing my spirituality and individuality.”
