Bogolanfini is a living art form, with techniques and motifs passed down from generations of mothers to daughters.  Patterns have meanings and different people have different meanings for the same pattern or colour combinations.  These can differ on the region, ethnic group or individual.










Each piece of mudcloth tells a story, no two pieces are
alike and each pattern and colour combination has a
meaning.  It can depict wealth and luxury, or, as with a circle, it can represent the house of the family and the dot in the middle is the family.  It is said to represent unity.











The symbols arrangement and colour as
well as shape of the mudcloth reveal secrets. 
The mudcloth is also used to define a
person's social status,character or occupation. 












Bogolanfini is an expression of Malian national identity and a symbol of belonging to African culture.  Sometimes there is no symbolic meaning:  the patterns and the colours are simply meant to be beautiful.
















Bogolanfini, for Bamana women has always been an essential component in the marking of major life transitions, such as birth, marriage and death. 








The colours of mudcloths represent different meanings and tell stories or portray a proverb. Although cloths with a black background and white design are considered traditional colouring of the cloth, other colours are used.









A mudcloth artist has to be taught each concept
and learn their skill over a long period of time.
They have to learn how to make each dye, all dyes are organic. A rust colour is supposed to represent the strong supernatural powers that protect the hunter. It also signifies blood either the hunt or from warfare and is useful as a form of camouflage.

Kente Cloth:  These are pattern which have been inspired for the catwalk from another African tribe, the Fante peoples from Ghana. There are many tribal cloths which are a rich and colourful source of culture and history.  Mud Cloth - Bolonganfini is only one of them.