The exhibition Fancy! Commemorative loincloths in Africa is held until January 14 at the Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac museum. It presents a panorama of commemorative loincloths printed over the last fifty years on the occasion of political, social, religious and cultural events in sub-Saharan Africa.
These are printed fabrics, created especially for major events, full of history and symbols, and which have become true collector’s items. More or less colorful fabrics that women wear along their bodies, on which we can recognize the portraits of heads of state, political leaders or musicians, and which tell, for a day or forever, the identity of a people, recalling past events, marking the launch of a reform or the kick-off of a sporting event.
Tools of propaganda and political communication, loincloths are also testimonies to the history and culture of sub-Saharan African countries. The exhibition Fancy! Commemorative loincloths in Africa puts them in the spotlight.
Reporting : Hortense Volle went to the 32nd edition of the Fiesta des Suds music festival, in Marseille.