Kpokpo Cloth

Country cloth is a thick, heavy, cloth, traditionally made from locally grown cotton that is spun into thread, dyed, and woven into strips on a tripod loom. The strips are then sewn together edge to edge to form the finished cloth. Such cloth was, in the past, regarded as a sign or wealth and Prestige. This is thought to be an example of kpokpoi, or kpokpo, cloth, relating to country cloth made up of strips of varying colours and patterns, used to make a larger, more complex, pattern. This example is composed of 11 strips in undyed, and indigo-dyed weft cotton. The central section is woven in what, according to Venice Lamb, the Mende call stepi style (from the English word ‘steps’). The name ‘David Tucker’ on the cloth is apparently that of an African employee who gave the cloth to the donor, L.Bailey.

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Further Information

  • Type: Textiles, cloth
  • Object: Kpokpo Cloth
  • Materials: Textile
  • Culture Group: Mende
  • Dimensions: 2240mm [L] x 1530mm [W]
  • Production Date: Pre 1992
  • Associated Places: Kawa chiefdom; Nyamba; Njama valley
  • Associated People: L. Bailey; David Tucker
  • Museum: British Museum
  • Accession Number: BM:Af.1992.8.1

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