Blanket (Bouna bouna or bundu bouna)

Unknown

1960s · Cotton, wool · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

This Songhay blanket cover (Bundu bouna) from the Goundam district in Mali consists of nine wide strips composed on a cotton warp and a weft-faced design of alternating white cotton and tan wool bars. Each strip of warp begins and ends with alternating bands of wool and cotton. The Malian national colors -- red, yellow, and green -- are interspersed, except that orange is used instead of red. Collected in the 1960s, this example of a Songhay textile from Mali is a mid-century example of an important regional tradition.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1960s

Medium

Cotton, wool

Culture

Songhay

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Pascal James Imperato, 2015