Appliqué workers, in street, Abomey, Benin

"Appliqué workers are Fon men and boys living in the city of Abomey who belong to a family guild that transmits patterns for design from one generation to the next. Bright colored designs depicting animals, objects and humans are cut of plain weave cotton and sewn to a cotton fabric background. They depict particular kings, chiefs and warriors and their great achievements, historical events or moral teachings. Design and technique remain traditional. The figure resemble bas-relief done on palace walls and the entrances to the quarters of important men." [Graham R., 1992: Textures: The Spirit of West African Textiles, Hofstra Museum]. During his trip to Dahomey (now Benin), Elisofon visited the town of Abomey, in the Fon people region. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.