Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part IV of a four part pancocojams series on kente cloth.
While the other videos in this series focused on kente cloth wearing customs in the United States, this post features videos of kente wearing parties and events in various other nations throughout the world. These eight featured videos are of kente themed parties in Australia, Canada, Norway, The United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium.
As a bonus, a video of the Asantehene (King) Osei Tutu II's visit to Atlanta, Georgia [USA] in 2004 is also included in this post.
Click these links for three other posts in this series about contemporary customs of wearing kente cloth:
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/wearing-kente-cloth-stoles-during.html
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/african-day-worship-services-in-african.html
and
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/kente-cloth-worn-by-american-gospel.html
The purpose of this post is to showcase the different kente cloth designs and showcase the way that Ghanaians wear kente.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the all those featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
By no means is this meant to represent all the nations in the world that have had kente themed parties. For example, a video of a kente party in the United States, and a video of a kente parties in Italy are also found on YouTube.
****
BACKGROUND
Kente parties and dances are social dance events in which men and women, most of which are of Ghanaian descent, wear outfits made out of kente cloth. The summary statement for the video given as Example #2 below indicates that the party is "A Celebration of Kente cloth as a symbol of Ghanaian culture".
These social occasions provide opportunities for Ghanaians living internationally to socialize together and reinforce their ties to their culture.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are posted in chronological order, with the oldest dated examples presented first.
Example #1: AustraliaGhana Kente Dance Melbourne 2 [Australia]
Azantoa, Uploaded on Feb 3, 2009
****
Example #2: Kente Dance in Vancouver, part 2 B.C 2009 [Canada]
mansah adom, Uploaded on Dec 9, 2009
A Celebration of Kente cloth as a symbol of Ghanaian culture by Ghanaians living in British Columbia, Canada .
****
Example #3: amammere.wmv [Norway]
unitymedia, Uploaded on Jul 11, 2011
kente party Stavanger-Norway
****
Example #4: GHANA INDEPENDENCE DANCE 2011 [The United Kingdom]
emabcreations,·Uploaded on Apr 14, 2011
Aren't they beautiful? the ladies, the men, the style, the traditional kente dress, the song, the groove, the catwalk, etc = colours of the rainbow !! just lovely !!
****
Example #5: ..Kente Dance Hamburg 2007 [Germany]
desepaet Jones, Uploaded on Jul 29, 2011
Celebration of the westafrican traditional fabrics Kente
****
Example 6#: Kente Festival 2012.mpg [The Netherlands]
Gives Own. Published on Sep 25, 2012
****
Example #7: Kente party 1_d [Spain]
Yakubu Mone Fuseini Published on Feb 18, 2013
Gh. Union of Logroño La-Rioja (Spain)
Kente party. Part 1. 29th Dicember 2012.
****
Example #8: ADVERT FOR KENTE & AFRICAN WEAR PARTY 2013 (BELGIUM)
nkosuohene, Published on Apr 2, 2013
****
BONUS VIDEO: KING OSEI TUTU II VISITS ATLANTA
oupipeestudios, Uploaded on Apr 6, 2007
Ghana's geat king visit to Atlanta
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rulers_of_Asante
"The Asantehene is the absolute monarch of Ashanti and the Ashanti (or Asante) people...
The Asantehene is the ruler of the Ashanti people and the Kingdom of Ashanti, historically a position of great power. The Asantehene is traditionally enthroned on a golden stool known as the Sika 'dwa, and the office is sometimes referred to by this name.[3] The Asantehene is also the titular ruler of Kumasi, capital of Ashanti. The Asante state, or Asanteman (also known as the Kingdom of Ashanti, Ashantiland, Ashanti and Asante, Empire of Ashanti or Ashanti Confederacy), comprises the Ashanti region. The Ashanti Empire and Confederacy comprised part of present-day Akanland (southern Ghana) and portions of present-day eastern Côte d'Ivoire between the 17th and 20th centuries.
The current Asantehene is Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, born Nana Kwaku Dua, who ascended as the 16th Asante ling in April 1999"...
-snip-
I'm not sure when King Osei Tutu II visited Atlanta.
****
RELATED LINKS
Click http://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com/2012/12/kente-cloth-ghanas-ashanti-cultural.html for information and beautiful photographs of men, women, and children wearing kente wraps. Women wearing kente wraps contrasts with the clothing styles of almost all the women in the videos featured in this pancocojams post. In those videos, the women wore sewed two piece close fitted tops and fitted long skirts made of kente cloth, and most of the men who wore kente outfits wore kente wrapped around toga-like (with one shoulder out) along with long Western style pants and sandals without socks. A few of those men wore a short sleeve shirt under the kente wrap, but most of the men wearing kente cloth wore no shirt underneath it.
**
Click http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/kente/strips.htm for pages on the museum exhibition "Wrapped In Pride"
****
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label African fabric. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African fabric. Show all posts
Monday, February 10, 2014
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Wearing Kente Cloth Stoles During American Graduation Ceremonies
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision - June 12, 2025
This is Part I in a four part pancocojams series about kente cloth.
This post provides information about wearing kente cloth stoles during American graduation ceremonies, with a particular focus on university graduations.
Click these links for three other posts in this series about contemporary customs of wearing kente cloth:
Part II: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/kente-cloth-worn-by-american-gospel.html for the 2014 pancocojams post entitled "Kente Cloth Worn By American Gospel Choirs.
Part III: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/african-day-worship-services-in-african.html
and
Part IV: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/kente-parties-worldwide-videos.html Kente cloth parties worldwide (videos)
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
GENERAL OVERVIEW - WEARING KENTE CLOTH STOLES DURING AMERICAN GRADUATON CEREMONIES
BACKGROUND
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kente_cloth [retrieved May 25, 2025]
"Kente refers to a Ghanaian textile made of hand-woven strips of silk and cotton.[1] Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion among the Asante, Akan and Ewe people. According to Asante oral tradition, it originated from Bonwire in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. In modern day Ghana, the wearing of kente cloth has become widespread to commemorate special occasions, and kente brands led by master weavers are in high demand.
ARTICLE EXCERPTS
Here are excerpts from two articles about the custom of Black students in the United States wearing kente cloth stoles during their graduation ceremony:These articles are numbered for referencing purposes only.
ARTICLE #1
From http://articles.latimes.com/1991-10-27/news/vw-1049_1_kente-cloth 'Everybody Wants a Piece of Africa Now' by Donnette Dunbar, October 27, 1991
"Culture: Kente, a cloth rich in color and tradition, weaves its way into wardrobes of African-Americans. 'It makes me feel stronger,' one wearer says.
"You might have seen it as a bright accessory donned by Spike Lee, Bill Cosby, Arsenio Hall or Jesse Jackson. Or you may have seen someone wearing it on the street, at a party, in church, at college graduation: in a bow tie, a cummerbund, a scarf, a skirt--even in shoes.
No matter who is wearing it--no matter what the garment--kente cloth is one of the most striking images to emerge from the growing Afrocentric movement. The brilliantly colored material that originated in Ghana and started to crop up in the United States in the late 1980s is appearing with greater frequency in urban areas…
Tightly woven on narrow looms with colorful threads, kente originated centuries ago in Ghana with the Ashantis, who still wear it, toga-style, during royal and religious ceremonies. (Kente means "basket.")...
"It's part of a larger movement, a new generation that has discovered an appreciation of African culture--its music and art," says Abena Busia, an associate English professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey, who was born in Ghana. Much of the cloth is made in red, green and gold, colors that came out of the Pan African movement in the 1950s.
Many high school and college students wear strips of kente around their necks during graduation ceremonies. At prominent black colleges such as Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Morehouse, Hampton and Spellman in Atlanta, kente--in the form of scarves, hats and book bags--has become commonplace.
Cal State Northridge students have been wearing the cloth sporadically since the early '70s, says Margaret J. Brown, 53, coordinator of the university's black graduation ceremonies. She says wearing kente stoles at graduation has become a tradition.
Kente is making an appearance at Sunday church services too. Walk into the First African Methodist Episcopal Church and you will see kente stoles draped on the shoulders of its ministers.”...
-snip-
I added italics to these sentences to highlight them.
****
ARTICLE #2
From http://www.virginia.edu/oaaa/cult_events.html Annual Donning of the Kente
Graduation Ceremony
"The origins of Kente cloth date back to 12th century Africa, in the country of Ghana. The cloth was worn by Kings, Queens, and important figures of state in Ghanaian society, during ceremonial events and special occasions. In a total cultural context, Kente is more important than just a cloth. It is a visual representation of history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, moral values, social code of conduct, religious beliefs, political thought, and aesthetic principles. Today as African-Americans wear Kente cloth, they do so for inspiration, to honor, to celebrate, to connect, and to reflect on our collective heritage and communal struggles and successes.
The first "Donning of the Kente Ceremony" was held at Virginia Tech on the eve of spring commencement in 1995, as an African-American celebration of achievement sponsored by Virginia Tech's Black Organizations Council. Ronald Giddings was the founder of the "Donning of the Kente Ceremony" at Virginia Tech. It is a unique way to honor and recognize African-American graduates"...
-snip-
I added italics to this sentence to highlight it.
Latest revision - June 12, 2025
This is Part I in a four part pancocojams series about kente cloth.
This post provides information about wearing kente cloth stoles during American graduation ceremonies, with a particular focus on university graduations.
Click these links for three other posts in this series about contemporary customs of wearing kente cloth:
Part II: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/kente-cloth-worn-by-american-gospel.html for the 2014 pancocojams post entitled "Kente Cloth Worn By American Gospel Choirs.
Part III: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/african-day-worship-services-in-african.html
and
Part IV: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/kente-parties-worldwide-videos.html Kente cloth parties worldwide (videos)
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
GENERAL OVERVIEW - WEARING KENTE CLOTH STOLES DURING AMERICAN GRADUATON CEREMONIES
BACKGROUND
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kente_cloth [retrieved May 25, 2025]
"Kente refers to a Ghanaian textile made of hand-woven strips of silk and cotton.[1] Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion among the Asante, Akan and Ewe people. According to Asante oral tradition, it originated from Bonwire in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. In modern day Ghana, the wearing of kente cloth has become widespread to commemorate special occasions, and kente brands led by master weavers are in high demand.
Due to the popularity of kente [2] cloth patterns, production
of mass-produced prints with the kente patterns have become popular throughout
West Africa, and by extension the whole of Africa. Globally, the print is used
in the design of academic stoles in graduation ceremonies worn mostly by black
people in the United States and Canada."...
****
WEARING KENTE CLOTH GRADUATION STOLES IN THE UNITED STATES
Since the 1970s in the United States, kente
cloth has become a widely recognized short cut symbol of African heritage. Kente cloth is the most widely known example and often the only known example of traditional African fabric in the United States. There are countless
contemporary usages of kente cloth designs in the United States including as clothing
fabric, book marks, and Kwanzaa ornaments. However, the most widely adopted use
of kente cloth in the United States has been Black Americans’ wearing one or
more kente cloth stole with the standard cap and gown (robe) during graduation ceremonies.
This custom is especially found among
Black Americans who are graduating from a historically Black university (HBCU- historically Black Colleges & University) although Black Americans graduating
from a Predominately White Institution (PMI) may also wear one or more kente
cloth graduation stole. While wearing a kente cloth stole is a voluntary decision,
it has become traditional for members of historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLO) and also some Black non-members of historically Black Greek letter organizations to wear at least one kente cloth stole in their graduation ceremony.*
The kente cloth stole represents the graduates' connection to and pride in
their African heritage, and their pride in their accomplishment of graduating.
If they are members of a historically Black Greek lettered fraternity or
sorority, the favored stole is in the two colors of their organization and
includes that fraternity's or sorority's three Greek letters.
-snip-
*Members of these organization that aren't Black usually also follow that custom of
wearing one or more kente cloth stole in their graduation ceremony.
ARTICLE EXCERPTS
Here are excerpts from two articles about the custom of Black students in the United States wearing kente cloth stoles during their graduation ceremony:These articles are numbered for referencing purposes only.
ARTICLE #1
From http://articles.latimes.com/1991-10-27/news/vw-1049_1_kente-cloth 'Everybody Wants a Piece of Africa Now' by Donnette Dunbar, October 27, 1991
"Culture: Kente, a cloth rich in color and tradition, weaves its way into wardrobes of African-Americans. 'It makes me feel stronger,' one wearer says.
"You might have seen it as a bright accessory donned by Spike Lee, Bill Cosby, Arsenio Hall or Jesse Jackson. Or you may have seen someone wearing it on the street, at a party, in church, at college graduation: in a bow tie, a cummerbund, a scarf, a skirt--even in shoes.
No matter who is wearing it--no matter what the garment--kente cloth is one of the most striking images to emerge from the growing Afrocentric movement. The brilliantly colored material that originated in Ghana and started to crop up in the United States in the late 1980s is appearing with greater frequency in urban areas…
Tightly woven on narrow looms with colorful threads, kente originated centuries ago in Ghana with the Ashantis, who still wear it, toga-style, during royal and religious ceremonies. (Kente means "basket.")...
"It's part of a larger movement, a new generation that has discovered an appreciation of African culture--its music and art," says Abena Busia, an associate English professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey, who was born in Ghana. Much of the cloth is made in red, green and gold, colors that came out of the Pan African movement in the 1950s.
Many high school and college students wear strips of kente around their necks during graduation ceremonies. At prominent black colleges such as Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Morehouse, Hampton and Spellman in Atlanta, kente--in the form of scarves, hats and book bags--has become commonplace.
Cal State Northridge students have been wearing the cloth sporadically since the early '70s, says Margaret J. Brown, 53, coordinator of the university's black graduation ceremonies. She says wearing kente stoles at graduation has become a tradition.
Kente is making an appearance at Sunday church services too. Walk into the First African Methodist Episcopal Church and you will see kente stoles draped on the shoulders of its ministers.”...
-snip-
I added italics to these sentences to highlight them.
****
ARTICLE #2
From http://www.virginia.edu/oaaa/cult_events.html Annual Donning of the Kente
Graduation Ceremony
"The origins of Kente cloth date back to 12th century Africa, in the country of Ghana. The cloth was worn by Kings, Queens, and important figures of state in Ghanaian society, during ceremonial events and special occasions. In a total cultural context, Kente is more important than just a cloth. It is a visual representation of history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, moral values, social code of conduct, religious beliefs, political thought, and aesthetic principles. Today as African-Americans wear Kente cloth, they do so for inspiration, to honor, to celebrate, to connect, and to reflect on our collective heritage and communal struggles and successes.
The first "Donning of the Kente Ceremony" was held at Virginia Tech on the eve of spring commencement in 1995, as an African-American celebration of achievement sponsored by Virginia Tech's Black Organizations Council. Ronald Giddings was the founder of the "Donning of the Kente Ceremony" at Virginia Tech. It is a unique way to honor and recognize African-American graduates"...
-snip-
I added italics to this sentence to highlight it.
I'm interested in documenting dates that have been given for when wearing kente cloth stoles during graduations started to occur in the United States and when that custom became more widespread.
For the cultural record, please share any memories that you have about this custom in the comment section below. Thanks!
-snip-
Some community, churches, student organizations (including historically Black Greek lettered fraternities and sororities) sponsor annual African American ceremonies for graduates. These ceremonies aren't meant to take the place of the students' official commencement ceremony. Most graduates who choose to participate in those ceremonies wear a kente cloth stole over their graduation robe.
Particularly on the high school level, there has been administrative opposition to Black students in the United States wearing kente cloth stoles during their graduation ceremonies. For news articles about this opposition, click
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-05-21/news/0005210297_1_stoles-graduation-african-american and http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=3953
****
FEATURED YOUTUBE VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order, with the oldest dated examples given first.
UPDATE: March 18, 2016: The video that was previously given as Example #4 has now been marked private. I have replaced it with another video.
Example #1: Syracuse University 2011 BLACK GRADUATION
Eeshe White, Uploaded on May 15, 2011
****
Example #2: J.P. @ the Univ. of Washington Black Graduation Ceremony
DJJPGUNNz, Uploaded on Jun 14, 2011
What a night of jubilation, creativity & music. Of course, my son tries to steal the show as he places the ceremonial Kente Cloth around my neck. (Why did I give him permission to do it? God, what a ham!) My mom was very proud that night. My wife, Victoria, was a trooper throughout this whole journey.
-snip-
[Revised May 15, 2018]
1987 is the earliest date that I've found for a separate Black graduation cultural ceremony for any university in the United States. That date is from information about the California State University, Long Beach in the video given as Example #5 in this closely related pancocojams post: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/05/eight-videos-of-black-graduation.html Eight Videos Of Black Graduation Cultural Ceremonies Throughout The United States).
I'm interested in documenting dates that have been given for when wearing kente cloth stoles during graduations started to occur in the United States and when that custom became more widespread.
For the cultural record, please share any memories that you have about this custom in the comment section below. Thanks!
-snip-
Some community, churches, student organizations (including historically Black Greek lettered fraternities and sororities) sponsor annual African American ceremonies for graduates. These ceremonies aren't meant to take the place of the students' official commencement ceremony. Most graduates who choose to participate in those ceremonies wear a kente cloth stole over their graduation robe.
Particularly on the high school level, there has been administrative opposition to Black students in the United States wearing kente cloth stoles during their graduation ceremonies. For news articles about this opposition, click
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-05-21/news/0005210297_1_stoles-graduation-african-american and http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=3953
****
FEATURED YOUTUBE VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order, with the oldest dated examples given first.
UPDATE: March 18, 2016: The video that was previously given as Example #4 has now been marked private. I have replaced it with another video.
Example #1: Syracuse University 2011 BLACK GRADUATION
Eeshe White, Uploaded on May 15, 2011
****
Example #2: J.P. @ the Univ. of Washington Black Graduation Ceremony
DJJPGUNNz, Uploaded on Jun 14, 2011
What a night of jubilation, creativity & music. Of course, my son tries to steal the show as he places the ceremonial Kente Cloth around my neck. (Why did I give him permission to do it? God, what a ham!) My mom was very proud that night. My wife, Victoria, was a trooper throughout this whole journey.
-snip-
[Revised May 15, 2018]
1987 is the earliest date that I've found for a separate Black graduation cultural ceremony for any university in the United States. That date is from information about the California State University, Long Beach in the video given as Example #5 in this closely related pancocojams post: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/05/eight-videos-of-black-graduation.html Eight Videos Of Black Graduation Cultural Ceremonies Throughout The United States).
I added italics to this sentence to highlight it.
If you know of earlier graduation ceremonies for Black university students and/or pre-university level Black students, please share information in the comment section below.
The custom of holding a Black cultural graduation ceremony appears to have become more widespread in the United States since 2012. It's optional for Black graduating students to attend Black cultural graduation ceremonies and these ceremonies are usually held in addition to the official school's or university 's official graduation ceremony.
The custom of Black graduates in the United States wearing a kente cloth stole (or more than one kente cloth stoles) appears to have begun in the mid 1990s. That custom is still very widespread among Black American university graduates at Historically Black colleges & universities (HBCUs) and Predominately White Institutions (PWIs). revised June 12, 2025
However, I don't believe that the custom of placing a ceremonial kente cloth around the neck of a graduating student at the commencement program or in a separate "donning kente cloth ceremony" is widespread. It's my experience that graduating students either purchase their kente stole themselves or some family member, group, or individual purchases the stole for them and gives it to them to wear prior to the beginning of the graduation commencement program.
****
Example #3: Fresno County 2012 African American Graduation
LeachMedia Published on May 23, 2012
2012 Fresno County African American Graduation ceremony held at Fresno Memorial Auditorium. Hosted by San Joaquin Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
-snip-
[Fresno County California] This appears to me to be a celebration for pre-university aged students apart from their actual graduation ceremony.
****
Example #4: 2012 UCLA African American Student Graduation Procession
jwnealy3 Published on Jun 17, 2012
The beginning of the African American graduation ceremony, lead by traditional African dancers.
-snip-
I think that this is (or was) an optional ceremony that African American university graduates might participate in prior to their official graduation ceremony.
****
[Added June 7, 2016]
Example #5: Donovan Livingston's Harvard Graduate School of Education Student Speech
HarvardEducation, Published on May 25, 2016
May 25, 2016 Convocation Speech. Full remarks transcribed here: http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/16/05/lift
****
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
The custom of holding a Black cultural graduation ceremony appears to have become more widespread in the United States since 2012. It's optional for Black graduating students to attend Black cultural graduation ceremonies and these ceremonies are usually held in addition to the official school's or university 's official graduation ceremony.
The custom of Black graduates in the United States wearing a kente cloth stole (or more than one kente cloth stoles) appears to have begun in the mid 1990s. That custom is still very widespread among Black American university graduates at Historically Black colleges & universities (HBCUs) and Predominately White Institutions (PWIs). revised June 12, 2025
However, I don't believe that the custom of placing a ceremonial kente cloth around the neck of a graduating student at the commencement program or in a separate "donning kente cloth ceremony" is widespread. It's my experience that graduating students either purchase their kente stole themselves or some family member, group, or individual purchases the stole for them and gives it to them to wear prior to the beginning of the graduation commencement program.
****
Example #3: Fresno County 2012 African American Graduation
LeachMedia Published on May 23, 2012
2012 Fresno County African American Graduation ceremony held at Fresno Memorial Auditorium. Hosted by San Joaquin Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
-snip-
[Fresno County California] This appears to me to be a celebration for pre-university aged students apart from their actual graduation ceremony.
****
Example #4: 2012 UCLA African American Student Graduation Procession
jwnealy3 Published on Jun 17, 2012
The beginning of the African American graduation ceremony, lead by traditional African dancers.
-snip-
I think that this is (or was) an optional ceremony that African American university graduates might participate in prior to their official graduation ceremony.
****
[Added June 7, 2016]
Example #5: Donovan Livingston's Harvard Graduate School of Education Student Speech
HarvardEducation, Published on May 25, 2016
May 25, 2016 Convocation Speech. Full remarks transcribed here: http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/16/05/lift
****
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Information & Videos About West African Mud Cloth (Bololanfini)
Edited by Azizi Powell
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba at the Jools Holland 2007
reebeeking | March 10, 2008
live Mali Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba Africa
****
This post provides information & videos of bògòlanfini ("mud cloth") and is provided for historical, educational, and aesthetic reasons.
My thanks to the video uploaders, producers, and all the artists associated with this post.
****
INFORMATION ON MUD CLOTH
From http://www.ibike.org/africaguide/textile/textile1.htm
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B2g%C3%B2lanfini
Editorial statement: For the record, I am very opposed to female circumcision. However, my admiration for mud cloth is separate from that particular use for that cloth.
Also note that mud cloth is also traditionally made in Burkina Faso, West Africa (see video #2 and read the uploader's comments).
****
FEATURED VIDEOS
Video #1:
This video is placed at the top of this post.
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngoni_(instrument) for information on the ngoni musical instrument.
Also, click http://www.jambalayah.com/node/1148 for Part 2 of my series on "Traditional Musical Instruments Worldwide" which includes information on Ngoni Ba, as well as more information about the ngoni.
Video #3 below showcases annother type of ngoni (donso ngoni).
****
Video #2: More than Mud - Coulibaly & Brothers, Burkina Faso
Ten Thousand Villages, Uploaded on Jun 17, 2010
From http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/catalog/product.list.php?cart_artisan_id=6
"Habibou Coulibaly named his workshop Coulibaly and Brothers because he considers everyone who works there his brother.
Coulibaly and Brothers is one of 20 ...workshops that Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Burkina Faso represents. Habibou Coulibaly and his 'brothers' have been making bogolan (mud cloth or 'batik') in the same way hunters in Burkina Faso have for centuries. Hunters used the mud cloth as a way to disguise themselves by changing their sent and among these hunters there were some who added designs. Habibou learned how to do the mud cloth dying process with his grandmother.
Mud cloth is created using natural dies including one produced from the leaves of the sycamore tree. The artisans use brushes and stencils to apply the design to the mud cloth. Women, who traditionally weave the cloth, are now beginning to learn how to do the bogolan or mud 'batik' work as well.
Today Coulibaly's workshop includes 8 artisans and 25 to 30 more people when they are busy with orders. Habibou states that fair trade provides just pay and is helping to change lives in their community. Their work and income helps to unite them and provides them with a decent living.
Because of the work provided by the workshop people now have a mode of transportation where they were before walking by foot. Habibou wants customers to understand that they are not only buying a product but they are also assisting in development. The sales of products provide employment, which eliminates poverty. Habibou wants customers to see the energy and the life of the artisan in their bogolan works of art.
"Don't just look at the price of the product but most of all see the image of the artisan." -- Habibou When you purchase a product at Ten Thousand Villages like this mud cloth, you are purchasing more than a beautiful product. Your purchase assists in development, reduces poverty and takes the image of the artisan into your home."
****
Video #3: Mud Cloth | African Print Diaries | LAJA
Ashan-wa Aliogo, Published on Sep 10, 2017
Halla halla, I discuss Malian mud cloth today and share a couple tips on how to authenticate, it's presentation in fashion and more :)
-snip-
This video replaces one that is no longer available.
****
RELATED VIDEO:
Cloth Dyers of Mali: Self-Empowered Women
Maureen Gosling, Uploaded on Aug 15, 2008
This is a sample for a one-hour film BAMAKO CHIC, which celebrates the legacy of a small group of dyers whose creativity fueled cloth dyeing into a national commodity in Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world. Stay tuned for the completed film!
****
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba at the Jools Holland 2007
reebeeking | March 10, 2008
live Mali Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba Africa
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This post provides information & videos of bògòlanfini ("mud cloth") and is provided for historical, educational, and aesthetic reasons.
My thanks to the video uploaders, producers, and all the artists associated with this post.
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INFORMATION ON MUD CLOTH
From http://www.ibike.org/africaguide/textile/textile1.htm
There are several mud cloth in West Africa. The most prominent is said to have originated with the women of Mali where it is called Bogolan cloth or Bogolanfini (a composite of bogo, meaning "earth" or "mud"; lan, meaning "with" or "by means of"; and fini, meaning "cloth".) One center of high quality Bogolanfini production is the town of San, so it is sometimes referred to as San Cloth.-snip-
Traditionally, Bambara (Bamanan) women, as well as those of the Minianka, Senufo, Dogon, and other ethnic groups, produced the cloth for important life events and taught the process to their daughters. Men, especially hunters, wore it for hunts and celebrations. Today, both women and men make mud cloth for sale in markets, and Malian students study it at the arts academy.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B2g%C3%B2lanfini
Bògòlanfini or bogolan ("mud cloth") ... has an important place in traditional Malian culture and has, more recently, become a symbol of Malian cultural identity. The cloth is being exported worldwide for use in fashion, fine art and decoration.-snip-
The technique is associated with several Malian ethnic groups, but the Bambaran version has become best known outside Mali...
In traditional Malian culture, bògòlanfini is worn by hunters, serving as camouflage, as ritual protection and as a badge of status. Women are wrapped in bògòlanfini after their initiation into adulthood (which includes genital cutting) and immediately after childbirth, as the cloth is believed to have the power to absorb the dangerous forces released under such circumstances...
Bògòlanfini patterns are rich in cultural significance, referring to historical events (such as a famous battle between a Malian warrior and the French), crocodiles (significant in Bambara mythology) or other objects, mythological concepts or proverbs. Since about 1980, Bògòlanfini has become a symbol of Malian cultural identity and is being promoted as such by the Malian government.
Editorial statement: For the record, I am very opposed to female circumcision. However, my admiration for mud cloth is separate from that particular use for that cloth.
Also note that mud cloth is also traditionally made in Burkina Faso, West Africa (see video #2 and read the uploader's comments).
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FEATURED VIDEOS
Video #1:
This video is placed at the top of this post.
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngoni_(instrument) for information on the ngoni musical instrument.
Also, click http://www.jambalayah.com/node/1148 for Part 2 of my series on "Traditional Musical Instruments Worldwide" which includes information on Ngoni Ba, as well as more information about the ngoni.
Video #3 below showcases annother type of ngoni (donso ngoni).
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Video #2: More than Mud - Coulibaly & Brothers, Burkina Faso
Ten Thousand Villages, Uploaded on Jun 17, 2010
From http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/catalog/product.list.php?cart_artisan_id=6
"Habibou Coulibaly named his workshop Coulibaly and Brothers because he considers everyone who works there his brother.
Coulibaly and Brothers is one of 20 ...workshops that Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Burkina Faso represents. Habibou Coulibaly and his 'brothers' have been making bogolan (mud cloth or 'batik') in the same way hunters in Burkina Faso have for centuries. Hunters used the mud cloth as a way to disguise themselves by changing their sent and among these hunters there were some who added designs. Habibou learned how to do the mud cloth dying process with his grandmother.
Mud cloth is created using natural dies including one produced from the leaves of the sycamore tree. The artisans use brushes and stencils to apply the design to the mud cloth. Women, who traditionally weave the cloth, are now beginning to learn how to do the bogolan or mud 'batik' work as well.
Today Coulibaly's workshop includes 8 artisans and 25 to 30 more people when they are busy with orders. Habibou states that fair trade provides just pay and is helping to change lives in their community. Their work and income helps to unite them and provides them with a decent living.
Because of the work provided by the workshop people now have a mode of transportation where they were before walking by foot. Habibou wants customers to understand that they are not only buying a product but they are also assisting in development. The sales of products provide employment, which eliminates poverty. Habibou wants customers to see the energy and the life of the artisan in their bogolan works of art.
"Don't just look at the price of the product but most of all see the image of the artisan." -- Habibou When you purchase a product at Ten Thousand Villages like this mud cloth, you are purchasing more than a beautiful product. Your purchase assists in development, reduces poverty and takes the image of the artisan into your home."
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Video #3: Mud Cloth | African Print Diaries | LAJA
Ashan-wa Aliogo, Published on Sep 10, 2017
Halla halla, I discuss Malian mud cloth today and share a couple tips on how to authenticate, it's presentation in fashion and more :)
-snip-
This video replaces one that is no longer available.
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RELATED VIDEO:
Cloth Dyers of Mali: Self-Empowered Women
Maureen Gosling, Uploaded on Aug 15, 2008
This is a sample for a one-hour film BAMAKO CHIC, which celebrates the legacy of a small group of dyers whose creativity fueled cloth dyeing into a national commodity in Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world. Stay tuned for the completed film!
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