Young Woman's Bògòlanfini Wrapper (N'Gale)

The zigzag lines that run through the bands of this Bamana bògòlanfini wrapper are known as fini n’goloni sirakele, or “one twisted road.” Historically these textiles were used to make men’s hunter shirts or women’s wrappers and skirts. Women wore bògòlanfini for significant life transitions, such as after childbirth or as a burial shroud. In recent decades these widely recognizable graphic patterns have begun to reach a more global audience. They appear in a variety of commercial goods, ranging from upholstery and high fashion textiles to wrapping paper and book covers.