Ghana
I had the good fortune to visit Ghana (a country in West Africa) in early 2007, and visit/study with some of the craftspeople there. Here are some photos and commentary from my trip.
One of the great textile arts of Africa is kente, or strip-weaving. Weavers make long, narrow (4-6") strips of fabric that are then sewn together side-by-side to make a larger piece. Kente can be used as clothing, as bedspreads, tablecloths, placemats, etc. depending on the size of the piece. The strips are typically woven in alternating patterns, so the overall effect is like a patchwork quilt when finished.
I was fortunate enough to be able to study kente weaving for five days with the Ewe tribe in Ghana, and have documented some of what I learned. I have also included a photo gallery of kente. Come see some of the fantastic designs!
Photos and commentary from around Ghana
Adinkra is the art of symbolic stamped cloth. Its origin is unknown, but the Ashanti use of adinkra symbols dates back to at least 1818. Over 150 adinkra symbols exist, each with its own meaning, so each piece of cloth carries a symbolism.
I stopped by an adinkra craftsman's workshop in Ntonso, a village near Kumasi, and learned a bit about adinkra.
Lost-Wax Casting in Kurofofrom
Kurofofrom is another village near Kumasi (which, as the former center of the Ashanti empire, is also a center for handicrafts), which specializes in brass-casting.
Cotton Spinning and Indigo Dyeing in Daboya
Daboya is a small town in northern Ghana, near Tamale, the regional capital. It specializes in making fugu, handspun, handwoven, indigo-dyed robes worn by northern Ghanaians. I stopped by and got photos of handspinners and indigo dyers at work.
