African Textiles: Mudcloth, Bògòlanfini or Bogolan
Bògòlanfini or Bogolan commonly known as Mudcloth, originated in the town of Beledougou in Mali and is traditionally woven by the men and died using fermented mud by the women.
Each intricate design contains stories and symbols from Mali's past and is reported to be as old as before 12th Century AD. It is worth noting that although there are unified symbols, lots of these textiles were created in small villages separated from one another by distance and tribal differences, so the symbolism can be quite mysterious.
Pictured above is the entirely mud made Great Mosque of Djenné where thousands gather yearly to add mud to its walls.
And finally, here is our sock ode to Mudcloth. Get it online here.
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