North African Textiles

The rich textile tradition of North Africa is a testament to the versatile creativity of local people and their ability both to resist and adapt to centuries of diverse cultural influences. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans had left their mark well before the Arab invasion of the seventh century while more recently, influences from Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East have contributed to the development of the tradition.
The authors describe the main types of loom and discuss embroidery, applique and tie-dyeing techniques. The significance of costume and cloth at marriage is explored, as well as the distinctions between textiles used in urban and rural environments. A separate chapter looks at Ethiopian textiles.

Christopher Spring is a curator in the Department of Ethnography, British Museum.