Description

So…..What is Mud Cloth?

Also called Bogolanfini, mudcloth is a special textile, unique to Africa, originating centuries ago in the heart of Northern African’s Western Sahara region, now known as Mali.

The term mudcloth is loosely translated from Bambara, the language spoken in Mali. Bògòlanfini combines three root words: bogo meaning earth or mud, lan meaning ‘with’, and fini meaning cloth.

Unlike many of the textiles products brought to you by Bekunet, mudcloth is traditionally made by the men! They begin by handweaving narrow strips of cotton, before stitching together these strips to create a larger cloth.

It is then that it is passed to the women for dying and hand painting, using a variety of natural dyes – and a special kind of mud! River mud collected from a variety of streams and ponds and, like a good wine, left to age and ferment for up to one year!

Traditionally they were painted with images to convey meanings. Some meanings were often exclusive, passing down generations from mother to daughter, whilst others were more standardised in certain groups, with certain shapes like spirals having such means as life, whilst a concentric circle could represent the world.

The fabric was then laid out to dry in the sun. As the mud dries, it changes colours, from dark brown or black to a grey colour. The excess mud is washed off the fabric and the process is repeated many times. With each repetition, the affected area becomes darker. After sun drying for a week, the mud is washed off, leaving the characteristic white pattern on a dark background.

The tradition dates as far back to the 12th century. So by buying this cushion you are buying something crafted with an ancient technique!

As they are handmade, thickness and weight are not controlled and will vary.

This cushion is approx: 46cm x 46cm

Zipper Closure and woven cotton backing.

Handmade and Hand Painted.

For logistical reasons the cushion is sold without stuffing.