Wrapped in Power: An Introduction to Cotton and Indigo in West Africa

Raymond and Laura Wielgus Gallery of the Arts of Africa, the South Pacific, and the Americas, Focalpoint, third floor Locally produced cotton and indigo dyes continue to play prominent roles in West African myths, beliefs, and ritual practices, in spite of the availability of inexpensive fabric woven and printed in factories. Through this most personal means of expression, West Africans use their indigo-dyed cotton wraps to communicate a wide range of social, political, and religious messages. Visitors to this small installation will gain insight into the meanings of those messages as well as an understanding of the technologies, innovations, and marketing strategies employed by West African weavers and dyers.