Front panel of a woman's dress from Ghana, with batik image of Africa. TRC collection.The vast continent of Africa is home to a wide range of cultural and ethnic groups, many of whom have their own styles of traditional textiles and garments. For thousands of years these have been used as an important means to show, not only of the group's identity, but also a person's social and economic status, and his or her role within the group. And above that, the textiles also reflect ideas about colour, patterns and iconography, as well as religion and spirituality.

The aim of this exhibition at the TRC Gallery, which runs until 15 May 2014, is to give a feel for this diversity by focusing on various types of garments and textiles from different parts of sub-Saharan Africa. In doing so, emphasis is placed on types of fibres used for special garments; on some specific dyeing techniques, and on some of the silhouettes created by the garments and outfits worn by both men and women. Overall, many developments in the use of local and imported textiles have taken place in the 20th and early 21st centuries, and these are reflected in the garments. As a result, there have been some dramatic changes in the fibres used, the dyeing techniques, and the silhouette of Africa and Africans. For a photographic impression of the exhibition, click here.

The exhibition is co-produced with Paul Spijker (Toguna Art), a specialist in African
textiles and artifacts.