The Swahili Coast is a long way from Arabia, and Muslim women here have traditionally had more choice over how much to cover up. It's partly a practical matter: they do more dirty physical work than their wealthier Arab counterparts. Africans' love of bright colors is also a factor, inspiring coastal women to break up the black with African ethnic patterns. However, as foreign radical preachers strengthen their grip, the pressure on women to cover up totally - in black - has intensified.