HABITUDES VESTIMENTAIRES DES COMMUNAUTES BAATOMBU: ELEMENT SOCIO-ANTHROPOLOGIQUE D IDENTITE CULTURELLE DE KOUANDE AU BENIN

Clothing is one of mans fundamental needs. Baatonu society adopts a particular way of dressing. The aim of this research is to analyze the clothing habits of Baatombu communities and to determine the different functions of clothing. Qualitative in nature, a methodological approach was adopted using documentary research, observation and interviews with 53 actors. Claude Levi-Strauss structuralist and B. Malinowkis functionalist strategic approaches were used to analyze the data. It emerged that Baatombu communities identify themselves through their clothing. Their clothing reflects a strong message and emphasizes the importance of these items of clothing in daily exchanges and interactions. This blanket has both social and religious functions. It has an important social significance, given the value it places on an entire community The habit of dressing is the behavior that defines the way of dressing in a given environment.