African Textiles

Sub-Saharan African textile traditions are among the richest in the world, featuring a range of materials and weaving and dyeing techniques. Textiles made from leather, raffia, and bark cloth as well as cotton, silk, and wool are patterned either on the loom, by hand painting, or with resist-dyeing techniques. Highlights from the MFA’s collection include textiles from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, and South Africa.