Benin’s textile heritage is storytelling in fabric. The appliquéd cloths of Abomey, made by the Fon people, record kings, proverbs and victories in colourful cut-out pieces.
Cloth for kings
The craft developed in the Dahomey Kingdom, and men in Abomey, organised in a guild, made the cloths, passing their design knowledge down through their families. Motifs are cut from woven cotton and appliquéd onto a plain backcloth. Each king had heraldic motifs for his achievements, such as a shark and an egg for Behanzin, and the size of a royal cloth was proportional to the length of his reign.
A banner in a museum
The British Museum holds a banner made around 1912 by the Fon, described as a replica by the Yemadje family, traditional royal appliqué makers at the Abomey palace. It depicts events from the reign of King Glele. Today, tourist demand has added nature, animal and vodun subjects to the tradition.
Sources: The Design Sheet: Abomey Appliqué, British Museum: Appliqué banner.
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