Batik, a widespread art in West Africa
Batik is a very old technique of dyeing and printing patterns on pieces of fabric for ritual use or to make clothing. With batik, it is a whole set of techniques and know-how that allow to decorate fabrics of all sizes. Ancient Egypt, the Hindus and many other peoples already knew this technique. Introduced in black Africa with the colonization, this art is now part of the cultural heritage of the continent. This technique of dyeing on fabric is based on the principle that wax and water do not mix. The prior application of wax prevents the color from penetrating the fabric. By playing with designs, wax and textile dyes juxtaposed and superimposed on the fabric, a decorative effect of great beauty is obtained. The drawing is made on the fabric stretched on a table, freehand according to the artist's imagination or according to an existing model. The wax is then applied to the fabric, on all the parts that will be protected from the dyes. A dye bath is then prepared by mixing powder with cold or hot water. The dyes are applied to the fabric by lightly rubbing the brush. The canvas is then dried in the shade, away from the sun's rays to prevent the waxes from melting, which would cause the dyes to mix.
Pottery, the craft of women
Practiced mainly by women, traditional pottery is made with bare hands, sometimes with a wheel, then fired in a traditional kiln. There are two types of pottery: domestic pottery and ritual pottery. Domestic pottery is mainly composed of earthenware, including oil jars, beer jars, water jars and small sauce bowls. The traditional pottery is not so different in its forms from the ritual pottery, only a symbolic ornamentation allows to differentiate them. It is essentially used for traditional rites and ceremonies. Water for purifying ablutions, ceremonial drinks and offerings to the gods and ancestors are kept in them. In some places, such as Pya in northern Togo, pottery is still produced entirely by hand, without a wheel. The most commonly used technique for firing pottery is open air firing. This is usually done in a place outside the village, where a bowl is dug to place the pottery on a base of dry branches and straw where the fire is set. The cooking can last between four and six hours, and even go on all night. Once the fire is out, the pots are removed with a long stick.
Weaving, a disappearing craft
Traditional weaving has been undergoing competition from printed fabrics for several years. Their high cost price, the abandonment of traditional costumes, and changing fashions are some of the factors that have led to a major crisis in the sector. However, there are still some traditional weaving centers in the north of the country, in the regions of Dapaong, Kara and Sokodé. These are small workshops where the weavers have often joined together in groups. In the south of the country, the workshops take the form of small and medium-sized enterprises. These workshops stem from the great weaving tradition of the Ewe and the Ashanti. From south to north, different types of looms are used. The vertical looms have a rectangular wooden frame where the threads pass around the upper and lower wooden bars. Horizontal looms, known as "Sudanese looms," were introduced by the Fulani in the 8th century and appeared in the region around the 17th century. This loom is often mounted in the open air and used mainly by men. It consists of a fixed part, the "frame", and a mobile part, the "harness".
Basketry, a promising craft
Most of the larger markets feature all the basketry items of the local craft. Basketry is rarely colored and almost always of natural hue. Among the most popular items are mats, which are part of the basic furniture and furnishings. The blind mats, made of palm veins, are bound together with strands of raffia or bark. They are often used as a door at the entrance to the huts or as an awning or roof. Braided strip mats are made mainly in the north of the country. There are also all kinds of baskets and objects for domestic use, sieves and racks. Some foreign companies have started to invest in Togo in this sector by offering training to Togolese, by introducing plants or by buying wicker baskets. They see it as an ecological and especially promising market.
Other gift ideas
Woodcarving is very much practiced in the south of the country and particularly in Kpalimé, where many carving craftsmen live. It does not offer any particular originality compared to neighboring countries, but has a good reputation as regards the woods used: ebony, mahogany, iroko. The carved objects can take different forms: animals (elephants, giraffes), daily scenes (stylized women in ebony, fufu pile drivers), kitchen utensils (glasses, salad bowls), games (awale). As for the calabashes, they are still very much used in domestic life but can also be a beautiful decorative object. They come from the fruit of the calabash tree, whose shape varies. The ripe fruits are then emptied and dried. In the regions of Mango and Dapaong, decorators use the pyrography technique and incise the outer rind with a fire-reddened blade. In the Tchamba (Sokodé) region, the technique differs. The bark is scraped and incised with iron blades and knives. The drawings represent either geometric shapes or symbolic animals. Some are transformed into lighting fixtures and offer an original effect in Western interiors.
