This process involves tying raffia around hundreds of individual corn kernels or
a spiral design known as ‘Alakete’ because it comes out like the raffia mats used for covering ones head in the sun.
The ring-shaped pattern created by the thread can be seen in the areas that have been unthreaded.
This randomized design completed in intervals creates a big tie representing a moon with surrounding stars. It is known as ‘Oniwaro ati osupa’ (Stars and moonlight).
Stitching raffia onto the fabric in a pattern before dyeing
small portions of it can be pulled up into peaks and then tied with raffia or thread at the base to make bunched areas once the thread is removed post-dye it will reveal a ring-shape undyed area; a portion of the cloth can wrap over a seed, small stone or other object before being tied with thread at its base.
Cassava paste acts as a resist when the cloth is dipped into the indigo dye (the more dips the deeper the blue), allowing for wonderful hand-drawn batiks. Before finalizing the cloth for sale, it will be hit with a mallet, softening it and creating a lovely sheen, owing to the indigo dye.
Designs are created by folding, crumpling, and randomly sprinkling or splashing the hot wax onto a cloth prior to dyeing. Hot wax or paraffin is substituted for the indigenous cassava paste as a resist agent
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