African Textile Artists

Abdijan, Cote d’Ivoire: William Winslow Brown is a Liberian refuge. Using traditional Liberian quilting techniques, he creates commissioned quilts.
Adebisi Fabunmi: Works in a variety of mediums, including embroidery and wool painting. Scroll down the page to view his 1968 wool painting titled “Slaves Going to the New World”.
Chris Seydou: Pioneered the movement of bogolanfini techniques in the world of clothing design. Founded the African Federation of Fashion Creators in 1993, but died a year later. His work is stunning.
Discovering Mudcloth: An African Voices Exhibit: Developed by the Smithsonian Institution, this is an incredible presentation. DO NOT skip the intro screen. If you are only interested in Chris, then click on his picture. But trust me, you’ll miss a lot. Please click first on Nakunte’s picture and delve into a virtual world of learning about her, Chris Seydou, and Ismael Diabate, then have the opportunity to virtually create your own unique mudcloth, then print it out. This is absolutely fascinating.
I.B. Bayo: Born in Nigeria to a traditional weaving family, he creates stunning quilts and garments.
Ismael Diabate: Ismael helped transform bogolanfini from a clothing to a fine art aesthetic. Believing colonialism had undermined the Malian cultural heritage, he used the mud-dyeing technique as part of a cultural revival.

Discovering Mudcloth: An African Voices Exhibit: Developed by the Smithsonian Institution, this is an incredible presentation. DO NOT skip the intro screen. If you are only interested in Ismael, then click on his picture. But trust me, you’ll miss a lot. Please click first on Nakunte’s picture and delve into a virtual world of learning about her, Chris Seydou, and Ismael Diabate, then have the opportunity to virtually create your own unique mudcloth, then print it out. This is absolutely fascinating.
Iyalaro Silifatu Adunni Suliman: This is a Nigerian woman who is a master indigo dyer
Nakunte Diarra: Nakunte Diarra learned her craft from her grandmother and mother. Since the 1950s, she has created her own mud-dyed cloth in Kolokani, Mali. Several examples of her beautiful work are shown.
Discovering Mudcloth: An African Voices Exhibit: Developed by the Smithsonian Institution, this is an incredible presentation. DO NOT skip the intro screen. Click on Nakunte’s picture and delve into a virtual world of learning about her, Chris Seydou, and Ismael Diabate, then have the opportunity to virtually create your own unique mudcloth, then print it out. This is absolutely fascinating.

Nike Davies: This a Yoruban woman who is a batik artist. Her story is chilling and compelling. Her full biography can be read in the book, The Woman With the Artistic Brush: A Life History of Yoruba Batik Artist Nike Davies
Nike (Davies) Okundaye: ‘Celebrating Adire and the Batik Art of Nike’ in the Volumne 2, Number 1, 2001 edition of Ijele:Art eJournal. This is an online exhibition of many of her stunning batiks. (Note ‘ be sure to click on ‘The Exhibition’ to seen them. Then, click on the thumbnail image of each work in the left frame to bring a close up view in the right frame, along with detailed information about each work)
Yemesi Ajayi: A native of Lagos, Yemisi has had broad success in the areas of quilting, fashion design, textile design, and interior decorating.

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