| image from adireafricantextiles.com |
As early as the 15th century an Italian dye manual notes that the people of West Africa were regarded as highly skilled indigo traders and dyers. Traditionally to start an indigo dye vat they favored using some of the liquid from an old vat, dried balls of indigo leaves, and ash made from coconut husks. In 1670 when visiting Senegal, Frenchman John Barbot observed the dyers unique method of pouring clean water over ash covered dried indigo balls then letting the filtered liquid set in the sun for 10 days before the dye was ready to use.
I image from wildtussa.com image from authenticafrica.com
Oshogbo was one of Yorubaland's indigo dying villages where 80% of the people were employed producing indigo dyed textiles. The intricately dyed cloth was highly prized for its workmanship. Today just a few indigo dyers remain to preserve the traditional dying legacy once so prevalent in West Africa.
image fromadireafricantextiles.com
After the cloth was dyed it was pounded with wooden mallets adding a desirable sheen
to the surface of the fabric.
Intricate resist stitched patterns were added to the surface of the fabric before it was dyed.
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