Books and info about African textiles and crafts

As you may have guessed, I'm passionate about African textiles and crafts. There's just so much to learn and I'm constantly adding to my personal library of reference books.

On this page, by special arrangement with the authors and/or publishers, I can offer books which you may not find anywhere else.

African Wax Print: A Textile Journey

By Magie Relph and Robert Irwin

What exactly is African wax print? Where does it come from? What does it mean in the context of Africa's diverse textile traditions? How do Africans use wax print in Africa? And how is it used by the many designers, quilters and textile artists who are inspired by Africa and its textiles?

To find out, let's take a journey from the origins of wax print to the markets of West Africa and beyond. Along the way, we'll see wax print being worn, cut up, stitched, quilted, cherished and enjoyed.

"Fascinating ... a major step forward in telling the tale of African wax prints." John Gillow, textiles collector and author of African Textiles: Colour and Creativity Across a Continent.

80 pages. Over 100 colour photographs. A4 size. Soft cover.
ISBN 978-0-9566982-0-9.

Book only: £13.95

Book gift wrapped in African wax print fabric: £16.15

Order African Wax Print: A Textile Journey

Also available in these shops:

  • The British Museum, London
  • The Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester
  • Zijdelings Studio, Tilburg, The Netherlands
  • The Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal, The Netherlands
  • Wild Gecko African Handicrafts, Accra, Ghana
  • Sun Trade, Accra, Ghana

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Ghana: Where the Bead Speaks

By Esi Sutherland-Adi and Ama Ata Aidoo

An absolute 'must' for every bead lover, this stunning book - written and published in Ghana - is a vibrant and articulate testament to Ghana's incredible bead culture.

Essays by Professor Esi Sutherland Adi. Poetic reflections by writer Ama Ata Aidoo. Designed by bead-lover and jewellery designer Kati Torda Dagadu.

106 pages. Over 100 colour photographs of beads. 25 x 23 cm. Hard cover. ISBN 9988 1 5360 1.

Per book: £21.95

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Ghana: Where the Bead Speaks is available outside Ghana only from The African Fabric Shop

Liberating Log Cabin: Exploring Contemporary Textile Techniques

By Janice Gunner

Janice Gunner is an award-winning British quilter, stitched textile artist, teacher and author. I've studied with her and admired her work for many years.

Janice often uses African fabrics in her creations, especially kola nut and Indigo fabrics dyed by my friend Musa Jaiteh in The Gambia. You'll see these, plus hand-dyed batiks and South African shwe shwe fabrics in her new book Liberating Log Cabin.

Janice explains step-by-step how you can take traditional log cabin piecing a step further: how to cut and piece your quilt, how to 'wobble' your blocks and how to add excitement and texture.

You'll be inspired and set free to sew.

20 pages. Colour photographs and instructions. A4 size. Soft cover.
ISBN 978-0-9567065-0-8.

Per book: £9.95

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The Pride of Ewe Kente

by Ahiagble Bob Dennis

Bob Dennis is a young master weaver who comes from a renowned family of Ewe Kente weavers. His book explores the beauty, history and techniques of this marvelous textile art tradition from Ghana.

I first spent time with Bob at his Accra weaving compound in January 2005, learning all about this complex weaving technique. Bob was an incredibly knowledgeable and patient teacher and I learned a huge amount from him.

The Pride of Ewe Kente is extensively illustrated in colour.

First published in 2004 by Sub-Saharan Publishers, Accra, Ghana.

Hard cover: £21.95    Soft cover: £17.95

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NEW EDITION

Study Pack 2nd Edition

A taster of some of the varied and exciting fabrics from Africa.

A variety of different sample swatches. With 10 page info booklet, plus references and web links.

Ideal for students and teachers.

Per pack: £9.50

Order Study Pack

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