Malian Mud Dyeing with Aboubakar Fofana

Led by artist and master dyer Aboubakar Fofana, this three-day workshop explored bogolanfini, the traditional Malian practice of mud dyeing. Participants worked with handwoven Indian textiles, natural tannins and fermented river mud sourced and prepared by Fofana in Mali, learning how these materials interact to create distinctive patterns and markings on cloth.

The workshop offered an introduction to the cultural and symbolic significance of mud-dyed textiles within West African traditions. Through a process of preparing, applying and dyeing cloth, participants engaged with the relationship between natural materials, traditional knowledge and textile-making, exploring craft as a means of preserving cultural memory and connecting with the natural world.