Article · One object, many stories
One Object: Country Cloth
6 min read · Art & Living Traditions · Liberia & Its Peoples · Trade & Connections
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Draft content awaiting specialist review.
In Liberia and Sierra Leone, hand-woven cotton cloth made from narrow strips is often called “country cloth.” Strip weaving is practised across much of West Africa, with distinct local styles.
Materials
Locally grown cotton is spun into thread and often dyed, with indigo blues and natural whites among the most familiar colours. Strips are woven on narrow looms and then sewn together to make larger cloths.
Uses and meanings
Cloth has served as clothing, as a gift marking relationships and ceremonies, and in some periods as a medium of exchange. Its meanings depend on who made it, who wears or gives it, and when.
Sources and further reading
Sources for this page are being compiled and will be added before review is complete.
By Lorma Editorial (draft) · Last reviewed: Pending review · Editorial standards
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