Documenting changing fashion in Africa post-1960
Bogolanfini, or mudcloth, is a Malian textile dyed using complex techniques and distinctive patterns. The cloth is traditionally made by men and dyed by women, using yellow and black dyes, and bleach to strip areas of colour away. This example was made around 1970. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project. Creator: unknown Place: Read More …
This cloth is an example of an aso-oke style called eleya-sanyan, with an inlaid striped design in two metallic blue shades. Sanyan is a classic style of aso-oke which is woven from from anaphe wild silk, while ‘elaye’ refers to the open work holes in the cloth that form the structural decoration along with the Read More …
This dashiki, called kitenge in Kenya, belonged to Collecting Panel member Tony Kalume. Read More …
This dashiki tunic from the 1980s belonged to Judith Birya who used it for everyday wear. Dashiki, called kitenge in Kenya, is a distinctive colourful textile which is popular in East and West Africa and the African diaspora. Collected by Tony Kalume as part of the Fashioning Africa project. Place: Kaloleni, Kilifi County, Kenya, East Read More …
This dashiki tunic from the 1980s belonged to Beryl Adhiambo who used it for everyday wear. Dashiki, called kitenge in Kenya, is a distinctive colourful textile which is popular in East and West Africa and the African diaspora. Collected by Tony Kalume as part of the Fashioning Africa project. Place: Kisumu County, Kenya, East Africa, Read More …
This dashiki tunic was worn by the owner, Tracyter Mutala, to a wedding in Bungoma County, Kenya where she coordinated her look with other female members of the groom’s family. Tracyter customised the tunic with a red lace trim. Collected by Tony Kalume as part of the Fashioning Africa project. Place: Bungoma County, Kenya, East Read More …
This shirt was bought by the Kenyan owner Casbery Omurunga as a plain black button down shirt. He had his tailor add dashiki fabric to the front, shoulders and cuffs, and wore the finished shirt to his nephew’s baptism. Dashiki, called kitenge in Kenya, is a distinctive colourful textile which is popular in East and Read More …
This outfit was made by Joma Wellings-Longmore, who wore it as a guest to a wedding in the 1990s. The look included a pink mesh headwrap which matches the skirt (collected but not pictured). Joma spoke to collecting panel member Edith Ojo about the inspirations behind the outfit. Edith explains: ‘It is a bold statement Read More …
This aso-oke fila was worn by Shola Bello, a British Nigerian man, at his wedding. Aso-oke translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’ and was traditionally narrow strip-woven by men. It is a popular choice for special occasion outfits for Yoruba people in Nigeria and in the UK. While some groom’s outfits are entirely Read More …
This Yoruba groom’s outfit was worn by Shola Bello at his wedding. He wore white to match with his bride, Titi, whose outfit was also collected by the Museum. This intricately woven fabric was bought and made in Lagos, Nigeria, where it is known locally as Guinea Brocade. It was made by a tailor who Read More …