Images of Commemorative Fabrics from Africa
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Commemorative Fabrics from Africa is a collection of machine-made commemorative textiles from various African countries. This collection provides researchers access to digitized fabrics that are printed with images and text documenting events and individuals of historical, political, religious, economic, educational, and sociological significance to African societies. Throughout the continent, fabric serves multiple functions in people's daily lives. It is used for clothing, shelter, storage, and packing material. The type of African fabric found in this collection also serves as a communication device. When used as a textual and visual document, the fabric becomes a vehicle to commemorate an event or to celebrate a person's life or achievement. One does not need to know how to read in order to understand the messages found in these textiles. In societies where a large portion of the population cannot read, the visual elements enable everyone to share in the reception and transmission of the message that is being conveyed. In this way, the fabric also serves to preserve historical narratives that are important to the community. The pieces in this collection were graciously donated by UW faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other individuals outside the UW.
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English
Cloth promoting the Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria. The center of the cloth features a portrait of Mary and baby Jesus, with a banner beneath proclaiming: Through Mary our Mother …
UW: University of Wisconsin–Madison English
This cloth is an Indian produced commemorative fabric celebrating Nigerian independence. It is brown cotton with embroidered blue and red stripes. At the center is an embroidered tiger in yellow …
Portuguese
This fabric was designed to commemorate the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO, Frente de Libertação de Moçambique). The pattern is largely red, green and black – the colors of the Mozambican …
English
Fabric commemorating the centenary of the birth of Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana. Featured in the center is a portrait of Nkrumah. The portrait and the border displays …
French
This fabric commemorates graduation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On a pink background decorated with blue and yellow mortarboards, the central emblem of this fabric features four graduates in …
French
This fabric has an abstract blue pattern that features blue and orange diamond shapes. The smaller diamond shapes contain an outline of the country of Mali. The capital, Bamako, is …
English
Black kente stole with stripes of white, green, yellow, and maroon. Includes the recipient's date of birth.
Swahili
This vibrant fabric celebrates the Independence Day of the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). The central emblem is a yellow circle displaying the outline of the DRC filled in with …
English
Blue kente stole, with stripes of pink, yellow, and maroon. The message on the stole is done in yellow thread, interwoven with silver. Featured at both ends of the stole …
English
This green and white fabric commemorates the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education of Cameroon (MINJEC) and its programs and organizations. The main emblem features a group of diverse …
French
This fabric is in support of Ali Saibou, the president of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD). His portrait is featured in the center. The blue background …
French
On a pink background, this International Women’s Day fabric features a geometric pattern of diamond stripes in red, gold, and brown. The central emblem is a brown and gold globe, …
English
This fabric supports 2009 candidate for the Gabonese Democratic Party, Ali Bongo Ondimba. Featured is a portrait of the president, an image used in his campaign, and the emblem for …
French
This fabric commemorates nursery schools for young children and maternal classes for mothers. The black and navy geometric background displays an image of children playing in a schoolyard while two …
French
This pink fabric commemorates Pope John Paul II. There is an ornate blue and gold design bordering the top and bottom as well as the recurring images of Pope John …
French
This fabric celebrates the 50th anniversary of independence in Côte d’Ivoire. On a white background decorated with green and orange swirls and stars, the central emblem that repeats throughout the …
French
Cloth promoting the University of Buea in Buea, Cameroon. This cloth features the seal of the University of Buea set against a blue and green checkered background. Within the seal …
English
This fabric commemorates the 10 year anniversary of the privatization of Cameroon’s state-owned electricity company. The text features the name and slogan of the privatized company, AES-Sonel, Energizing Cameroon. The …
English
This soft, light-weight cloth is a bright blue color with white block letters reading "I Love Somalia" and "Somalia" in a repeating pattern. The design of the fabric mimics the …
English
This fabric designed for the 2017 International Women’s Day in Cameroon features a repeating pattern of a central emblem surrounded by various mottos of the event on a pink and …
English
This fabric commemorates mothers with a variety of phrases and images of mothers and their children. It is in a yellow, gold, and brown color scheme with flowers and hearts …
French
This fabric celebrates the 1981 6th annual National Youth Festival that took place in Diffa, Niger. The central image shows an outline of the country with the southern transportation route …
French
This fabric commemorates the 1972 gathering of the Organisation commune Africaine Malgache et Mauricienne in Lome, Togo. On a yellow background, the central emblem features the map of Africa in …
English
Cloth welcoming visitors to Tanzania. This cloth features the map of Tanzania with all the districts, placed on a background of the green, yellow, blue, and black pattern of the …
English
This fabric commemorates Mother's Day, and has a floral background in shades of pastel yellow. The main image is that of a mother and her infant, framed in blue. The …
English
This fabric designed for the 2018 International Women’s Day features a vibrant pattern of navy blue, red, yellow, green, and white on a mostly magenta-pink background. The large center emblem …
French
This fabric commemorates the 12th annual Traditional Wresting Championship that took place in Diffa, Niger in 1986. The image shows two men wresting in traditional costume. Text (French): 12ème Championnat …
French
This fabric celebrates the Zinguinchor Carnival. Ziguinchor is a major city in the southern region of Senegal. On a black background, the fabric features colorful details of musicians, dancers, trees, …
French
Fabric celebrating Niger’s independence. The background displays a red, beige, and green motif similar to that of the Nigerien national flag. It is bordered by elephants. This fabric features a …
French
This fabric commemorates the Bassa Synod of Cameroon. On a light blue background decorated with blue and green images of open bibles, the fabric features a repeating pattern of green …
French
Fabric advertising the Cameroonian printing company Société de Presse et d’Éditions du Cameroun (SOPECAM). This cloth features a blue background with the company acronym and logo in darker blue and …
French
Tunic commemorating the ordination of pastors in the Bassa Presbyterian Synod. This tunic is made from a standard abstract pattern with grided and floral features. The text has been stamped …
French
A blue cloth produced to celebrate the 50 years of independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The cloth is adorned with several black stars and cut diagonally by a …
French
This fabric commemorates Senegal’s leadership in 1981, which marked 21 years of independence. The fabric features a photo of Senegal's second President, Abdou Diouf, and his wife. The background uses …
French
Fabric commemorating the 30th anniversary of the opening of the American Embassy in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. It features the flag of the Congo People's Republic which was used …
French
This fabric honors the trade union CDTN that was founded in 2001. The black background features a pattern that resembles a web. The CDTN logo and slogan are displayed as …
French
This fabric commemorates the political party in Togo called Union pour la République (UNIR). On a bright blue background decorated with rows of small white doves, this fabric features the …
English
On an orange background textured with dark red stripes, this fabric displays rows of red and green button-like icons. Blue and purple links of chain cover the rows and are …
English
This fabric promotes the political party known as Union des Forces Démocratiques de Guinée (UFDG). It shows support for Cellou Dalein Diallo, the UFDG candidate for Guinea’s 2010 presidential election. …
English
Fabric made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of CERAC (Cercle des Amis du Cameroun / Friends of Cameroon). Text (French): Chantal Biya, Presidente fondatrice, 20 ans d'action (1995-2015); Assistance aux …
Portuguese
This design commemorates the national holiday as well as the 3rd Meeting of African and Spanish Women. The blue background features the outline of the Croix d’Agadez (Cross of Agadez), …
Basa
This fabric commemorates the Ndok-Bea Tribal Organization in Cameroon. The light green fabric displays the images of two mountains. The background is decorated with fireworks emitting colorful specks of green, …
English
This fabric was made for the political movement Société de Développement that was led by President Kountché in the late 1970s. The movement’s logo is the central theme. It shows …
French
Fabric commemorating a National Assembly for freedom of religion in Benin. The background displays an instrument or tool motif in red and black. The fabric features an outline of a …
English
Cloth promoting AIDS awareness in Cameroon. At the center of this pattern is a round emblem featuring a red AIDs ribbon over a map of Africa with Cameroon highlighted in …
French
This fabric commemorates the 1981 agreement between Senegal and the Gambia. Portraits of the two nations’ presidents and their wives are shown in a floral motif in the shape of …
English
This fabric commemorates the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as president and vice president of the United States in 2020. On a royal blue background, the portraits of …
English
Cloth made for the third and final conference held for the U.N. declared Decade of Women (1976-1985) held in Nairobi, Kenya, July 1985. Text: UN Decade for Women Conference; July …
English
This high school graduation kente stole is done in green and white, the school colors, and includes the recipient's jersey number and year of graduation. The stole also features the …
English
This fabric displays a World Health Organization campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease. The disease is caused by a parasite and transmitted via contaminated drinking water. One image shows a …