A Jukun court official, Wukari, Nigeria

Rare view of  a Jukun court official in his elaborate strip woven cloth. Date and photographer unknown. Source: @artnewsafrica

African Textiles: the Karun Thakar Collection

My new book, out now. African Textiles: the Karun Thakar Collection, (Prestel), available now from good bookstores and the usual sources. Main texts and captions are by me, brief foreword by Bernhard Gardi, text in the North Africa section by Dr Miriam Ali-de-Unzaga, and an introduction to his collecting experiences by Karun Thakar. The book is a substantial (320 page) introduction to one of the largest and most important collections of African textiles, with particular strength in West Africa and a number of previously unpublished styles illustrated.

Indigo Details

Mossi strip weave, Burkina Faso.

Yoruba stitch-resist adire, Nigeria, 1960s.

Strip weave, Niger, mid C20th.

Hausa strip weaves, Nigeria, circa 1970.

Yoruba strip weave aso oke, Nigeria, early C20th.

Yoruba strip weave aso oke, Nigeria, early C20th.

Yoruba starch resist adire eleko, Nigeria, circa 1960s.

Hausa stitch resist, Nigeria, circa 1970.

Efik stitch resist, Nigeria, mid C20th.

Please visit our website to view our selection of indigo cloths.

Exhibition: “West Africa: Word, Symbol, Song” at the British Library.

An exhibition of literature and music – from the great African empires of the Middle Ages to the cultural dynamism of West Africa today

Fascinating stories from the region’s 17 nations show how West Africans have harnessed the power of words to build societies, drive political movements, sustain religious belief and fight injustice.

Beautiful manuscripts, historic film and sound recordings, books, photographs, and woven and printed textiles offer a unique insight into a profound and engaging literary culture with centuries-old written heritage existing alongside ancient oral traditions.

Hear the myth of the founding of ancient Mali in recorded performance. See the influence of religion through colourful fabric and the saddlebag Qur’an. Celebrate writers and artists including Africa’s first Nobel prize winner, Wole Soyinka, and internationally acclaimed musician and human rights activist Fela Kuti.

- See more at: http://www.bl.uk/events/west-africa-word-symbol-song#sthash.SVnDNyAJ.dpuf

Asante Silk Kente Cloths

While run of the mill Asante kente cloths woven from rayon thread and mostly dating from the 1970s and after are easy to find, top quality silk cloths woven in the early part of the twentieth century are extremely rare and becoming increasingly difficult to source. The images below show a glimpse of some or our current inventory. Full views and more details on our site at adireafricantextiles.com