Tuesday, February 5, 2013

The Women of Tiébéle

I was so excited the other day to discover the amazing women of Tiébéle in Burkina Faso. Their design sense is superb, and has been passed down through generations of women. They cover the cob structure house with bold geometric patterns, sometime using pictures of animals and precious possessions. This layer of fresh dung and mud is applied to the walls, inscribed, painted, and then varnished with a mixture made from the pods of local tree.



© Rita Willaert, who visited Tiébéle, in Burkina Faso, in 2009.

© Rita Willaert, who visited Tiébéle, in Burkina Faso, in 2009.
© Rita Willaert, who visited Tiébéle, in Burkina Faso, in 2009.
© Rita Willaert, who visited Tiébéle, in Burkina Faso, in 2009.

Here are a couple of links to see how the women work. This is a short video, Couleurs de femmes à Tiébélé,  [link here]And this is a longer video called Traces, Women's Imprints, [link here]. Both are terrific.

8 comments:

  1. These are beautiful - a fascinating use of graphic, geometric pattern in the everyday. Extraordinary how these patterns are repeated in traditional textiles and buildings across the world.

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    Replies
    1. Like you, I am always amazed by such similar uses of pattern and color around the world, and it was done before the internet !

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  2. Great Pictures and verry nice Blog.
    Please com and look on my blog. If you want, we can follow each other on GFC. Please let me know.
    xoxo, Wieczora (◔‿◔)
    from Wieczoranien

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  3. Thankyou for giving the links to the videos. The women, story and proccesses were absolutely fascinating. Ann

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