Country cloth or ("kpokpo") is a centuries old traditional textile of Sierra Leone. Woven on a drop spindle, using locally sourced raw cotton and ink from tree bark, country cloth was the traditional garb of paramount chiefs and had varied uses as hammocks and bedspreads. 

Today, the favored traditonal garb of much of West Africa is dutch wax print from companies like Vlisco and the number of artisans still creating country cloth steadily declines. 

At Dar Leone, we champion and will promote the continued efforts of country cloth producers in our own small way. In the meantime, check out the lovely samples of country cloth below:

          

 

 

 

 

 

(Images courtesy of My Peace Corps Years 1967-1970 blogspot)