The dispute over a photograph of Barack Obama in Somali dress is not the first time that a public figure has endured criticism for donning traditional dress.
Public figures in traditional dress
1996, UK
Prince Charles wears traditional Islamic dress to the opening of the Mohammedi Park Majlis in Northolt, north-west London. The Sun newspaper commented: “You mosque be joking”.
1998, Ghana
Bill and Hillary Clinton wear traditional kente cloth during a public appearance before a crowd of thousands with then-Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings.
2005, West Bank
Laura Bush wears a headscarf while departing the Dome of the Rock after taking a tour of the shrine in East Jerusalem.
2005, South Korea
Pacific leaders don traditional Korean dress during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Busan. The group photo has become an often-mocked fixture of Apec summits.
2006, Vietnam
Leaders wore Vietnamese ao dai for the group photo during the 2006 Apec meeting in Hanoi.
2006, Kenya
Barack Obama wears traditional Somali dress during a visit to northern Kenya.
2008, India
Sarah Brown, wife of British prime minister Gordon Brown, wore traditional Indian shalwar kameez during a visit to New Delhi.
