Exhibition Information

Bogolanfini, Patterns of Bamana Culture
The Mudcloth Collection of Kassim Kone

Bògòlanfini (mudcloth) plays an important role in Bamana society and culture. Certain designs of bògòlan (short for bògòlanfini) are intended for initiations while others are intended for religious celebrations for the male secret society known as Do (pronounced Dough). Among the Bamana, mudcloth is also the burial cloth for high status older women. For younger women, mudcloth is worn not only for aesthetic reasons, but also during many rites of passage such as initiation, marriage and childbirth. For these events, the patterns, the mud and the plants used are believed to protect those who wear the cloth against evil spirits and people. Farmers and hunters use various patterns of mudcloth for both aesthetic and practical reasons. One practical reason is it takes a long time to look dirty.