Textiles:

Characteristics:

• Made from cotton, animal and grass fibers.
• Woven cloth made on narrow and horizontal looms.
• Motifs and patterns of cloth produced by a variety of techniques, such as resist dyeing, tie dyeing, weaving, and direct painting on the fabric.
• Cloth indicates status, personal and group identity.
• Often done to beautify, complement, and enhance the body.

Bokolanfini Cotton cloth dyed yellow and hand painted with mud by women. Found in Mali. Resist dye technique.

	Adire White cotton. Cotton is painted with cassava starch and dropped in indigo dye. The areas covered with cassava remain white and uncovered areas are dark blue.
	Fon Flag Images of animals, objects and people created from bright colored fabrics. Figures then sewn on black cotton.
	Kente Cloth Woven by men on a narrow loom. Found among the Asante in Ghana and associated with royalty. Both silk and cotton are used.	Asante King in full regalia, surrounded by his retainers

• Woven from sheep wool.
• Made on horizontal looms by women.
• Motifs are similar to geometric designs women tattoo on their faces and hands.

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This website was created and modified by Cynthia Becker, Bolaji Campbell and Janine Sytsma with Professor Henry Drewal. It was last modified August 31st, 2007.
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