In Africa, cloths in general have names. Most of the modern fabrics in Côte d'Ivoire are named. These names deal with social issues, popular wisdom or political events. Often, the name of a fabric has nothing to do with the design of the fabric; however, sometimes it does. For example: The fabric above named "Dahico" is named after a comedian who makes telling remarks about political subjects while portraying the role of a drunken man, thus the wine bottle, goblet motif referring to Dahico's inebriated state. In the second "Capable Husband" fabric the design has no direct reference to the name of the fabric. The "Eye of My Rival" contains an obvious eye motif. The "Sac A Puces" is the name of a dog in a popular Brazilian film with the design of birds offering no connection to dogs or fleas. The non-verbal meanings attached to the traditional African fabrics can be simple or unbelievably complex and multi layered. I will be most happy to talk with Akwaaba visitors to Grand Bassam about this fascinating subject. Beugre Dogny François, Assistant Curator at the Musée National du Costume in Grand-Bassam

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