Old Malien mud cloth - Bogolanfini 10.03.2064
The mud cloth ( Bogolanfini) is a distinctive textile from Mali in West Africa. The present Bogolanfini is a hand-spun fabric of seven narrow raw cotton strips. The cloth is first soaked in a bath of local leaves such as N'galman and N'tjankara which contain the mordant tannin that dyes the cloth in a deep yellow colour. Then the mud, which has been kept for one year or more and is rich in iron salts. The iron salt of the mud reacts with the tannic acid in the cloth to produce the dark black colour. To reach a deep black colour, the proces may be repeated several times. The geometrical designs are said to have magical properties and the ability to absorb threatening evil spirits through their intricate meandering patterns, typically worn by local tribesmen and women. This cloth was bought in Mali early 1970, before the tourist production started.
