African Textiles

African textiles are a unique type of art that involves cloth. The cloth is usually made with many different designs and can be used for many things. Textiles are usually used for commemorative purposes. Such examples include political events, tribal events, weddings, funerals, burials, and naming ceremonies. In the past, the usage of textiles was controlled by the chief of tribes or regional leaders. Textiles can be worn as clothing

When the textile is warn, it is usually wrapped like a skirt around the hips and waist, and also thrown over the shoulders to make tunics and robes. Textiles used in clothing can be a symbol of status, or allegiance to tribal roots. They are not just for wearing though. Textiles were used as backdrops and decorations for ceremonies. They were also used for cover to keep warm. These textiles are made using different techniques, such as weaving, dying, printing and painting. Cotton is the fiber mostly used in textiles, but other material such as wool, silk, raffia, bark, and bast fibers were used.