Manuel Wandl – Gewebesammlung Westafrika
Galerie12, Eggenburg, AT
09. – 30.11.2025
Source: Manuel Wandl
West African textiles are characterized by their narrow strips, which are sewn together after weaving. Each cultural region has its own patterns, color combinations, and weaving techniques. Among the best-known textiles are those of the Ashanti, an ethnic group in western Ghana. These fabrics are also called “Kente,” a term from the Akan language meaning “basket.” Kente fabrics are famous for their vibrant colors and symbolic patterns.
The Ewe, who live mainly in eastern Ghana and neighboring Togo, decorate their fabrics with woven-in pictograms.
All West African textiles are produced on a treadle loom. In contrast to Central European weaving traditions, however, the warp threads are not wound onto a warp beam.
The fabrics come either directly from weavers or from verified local traders. The collection offers a representative cross-section of handwoven fabrics from different cultural regions of West Africa.
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