Virginia Friends of Mali

What a great idea! https://www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-mali-social-network-for-illiterates-20190617-story.html

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts hosted its free Family Day 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, celebrating the art and culture of Mali. Storytelling and Mudcloth activities with Virginia Friends of Mali , dancing, performances by musician Cheick Hamala Diabate and DJ Mikemetic & the Afro Beta Drummers were featured, along with quilting demonstrations by the Sisters of the Yam African-American Quilters Guild , clay vessel demonstrations by Carren Clarke and woodcut print demonstrations by Dennis Winston . Storytelling in the Library with the Alapini-Sakponou Women had it covered with these two books: The Magic Gourd by Baba Wague Diakite Sundiata: The Lion King of Mali by David Wisniewski At the end of the storytelling, the group talked about the country of Mali, and used a map made of Bogolanfini, a textile decorated with natural leaf and mud dyes. Then they sent their visitors downstairs to the Bogolan making activity!  Mudcloth Demonstration

Bogolanfini depicting entire bogolan making process, from harvesting cotton to weaving, dying and designing. Click here to watch a small documentary  filmed by the children of the Peep This Segou Film Camp helmed by Dr. Shawn Utsey. The subject of the youth's investigation was the cultural object called Mud Cloth in Segou Mali. The film is as much a document of what they saw and learned but also a testimonial of what can happen when you put cameras in a child's hands. Click here to see how to make bogolan , from the Smithsonian Folk Life website. Click here to see children painting bogolan designs at a local farmers market. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will have a free family day 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 8, celebrating the art and culture of Mali. Storytelling by Virginia Friends of Mali , dancing, performances by musician Cheick Hamala Diabate and DJ Mikemetic & the Afro Beta Drummers will be featured, along with quilting demonstrations by