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Just a moment
Soninke · Late 19th century · Art Institute of Chicago
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This type of robe was worn by chiefs, dignitaries, emirs, and other high-ranking men in 19th-century West Africa. It marked the wearer’s standing and prestige, and also identified him as a Muslim. The talismanic motifs were typically designed and stitched by Qur’anic scholars who found inspiration in Arabic texts. Soninke women no longer practice these embroidery styles and indigo-dyeing techniques, which impacted the weaving traditions of a vast region north and south of the Sahara.
The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC BY 4.0
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Image: Art Institute of Chicago, CC0