Buganda barkcloth making

Strip the mutuba bark, beat it with mallets to broaden the cloth, and dry it.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of Uganda. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of Africa: Great Lakes and Indian Ocean.