Sierra Leone Country Cloth Strip Loom

Throw the shuttle on a narrow strip loom to weave stripes of indigo and white, then sew the strips side by side into a patterned cloth that matches a target design.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of Sierra Leone. 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: Sahel, West and Central.