Call for contributions: the loincloth
The project
In November 2023, the Association “Carrefour des Cultures Africaines” will organize an event in Lyon that celebrates the Africa of fabrics and interbreeding.
When the loincloth becomes a message, a wink, an identity… a plural identity that demonstrates the incredible African inventiveness in terms of fabrics and styling and extends a multicolored and multicultural tradition of African textiles.
During this extraordinary fashion show, men and women of all ages will present the Mé-tissages Collection… A poetic and musical tale conceived as a singular, generous and joyful adventure!
About the event
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Résultats de traduction
19 / 5 000
Résultats de traduction
Contribution of the CCA
This collective project bears witness to the CCA’s desire to promote African cultures in their dialogue with the cultures of the world. The theme of transmission is the red thread of the 2022-2024 cultural program.
African textiles are as rich as the peoples who make up this continent. It is the image of each people, its cultural identity. Over time, African textiles have established themselves as a social, spiritual and cultural marker, conveying a very strong visual language. In the Dogon country in Mali, the word fabric means “the word”.
What is the heritage of traditional African fabrics today? How not to lose this thousand-year-old tradition that has been passed down from mother to daughter or father to son for generations?
Contribution by Marie-Rose Abomo-Maurin, member of the project team, researcher, writer and poet.
The loincloth: in the image of peoples, cultures and events
It is with this hat that the CCA invites us to join our reflection on “the loincloth, the African fabric” to theirs.
There is no doubt that “the loincloth” has simply ceased to clothe our bodies. It has acquired over time, from one region of Africa to another, values whose symbolism and language we discover every day.
Whether it is its thickness, the patterns that weave it, the seam in which it is presented…, “the loincloth” speaks and speaks to us.
Loincloths for political parties, associations, clothing for ceremonies or religious celebrations, any group of humans uses them. Some people now only dress with the fabrics of mourning, those of weddings, those of tontines, on which are displayed faces, messages…
“The loincloth” and its sewing end up making the “woman” or the “man”, as the habit would make the monk.
What is sometimes surprising is that he speaks for us and can trigger unexpected reactions, independent of us or, intentionally, seek to provoke…
These are all suggestions that can guide our thinking. But I’m sure you have other ideas about “the loincloth” and those who wear it, for example.
Testimonials – History of loincloths
Do you wear clothes in loincloths? On special occasions? Every day ?
Do you have an anecdote about a loincloth pattern? Does the loincloth have a particular meaning for you, your family, your ethnicity, your country? Would you like to show us the loincloth of your ethnicity, your group, your marriage? Do you have old photos of loincloths worn or being made?
Share with us your stories and the loincloths of your life!
Your thoughts should reach us no later than March 31, 2023 at the following addresses:
jacquelinengomanyim@gmail.com and marierose.abomomaurin@gmail.com