The Endurance of West African Textiles Through the Ages

Authors

Sarah Isak-Goode, Lindenwood University, St. LouisFollow

Student Type

Graduate

Document Type

Article

Abstract

West Africans have a long history of creating distinctive textiles. Yet, they are frequently misunderstood. Though often bold, the patterns and colors used in textiles have a subtle meaning. Separately and together, many of these patterns and symbols represent an unspoken language among natives. Research from the pre-colonial era to the contemporary era has shown that these textiles have persisted because of the reverence West Africans hold for both their heritage and personal expression. Further research is recommended to gain understanding of these textiles, from both the past and the present, as well as the West Africans who have intently carried on their traditions. These textiles continue to shape global perspectives by demonstrating that meaningful cultural expression exists beyond Western traditions, while their rich symbolic vocabulary serves as an inspiration for modern creative innovations across the globe.

Author Bio

Sarah Isak-Goode is a graduate of Lindenwood University’s Art History and Visual Culture Master's program. Her studies are interdisciplinary and connect psychology, politics, and social structure with the history of art. She is an artist, writer and educator living in the Pacific Northwest. Her mother, who had been a textile artist herself, would have been proud to see research done into the amazing world of West African textiles.

Recommended Citation

Isak-Goode, Sarah (2025) "The Endurance of West African Textiles Through the Ages," The Confluence: Vol. 4: Iss. 1, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62608/2150-2633.1051
Available at: https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theconfluence/vol4/iss1/1

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Date

10/22/2024