Mossi Woman's Wrap / Skirt

Fine and bold stripes of faded blue and cream alternate across a long, rectangular cloth.

This woman's wrap or skirt is Mossi, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is woven cotton & indigo. In much of West Africa, a length of cloth is worn wrapped around the waist as a skirt, and the stripe pattern may reflect regional taste. The bands vary from hairline to thick, in dark blue, pale blue and white. A tidy patch interrupts the pattern near the upper right, and the bottom edge looks frayed in places. It is 43 inches wide and 54 long.

A lively rhythm with a few visible repairs.