Bamana hunter wearing mud cloth, in front of mud brick granary. Near Bamako, Mali

Bogolanfini, which translates as "mud cloth" is a long established tradition among the Bamana, a Mande speaking people who inhabit a large area to the east and north of Bamako in Mali. Hand woven and hand-dyed mudcloth uses a centuries old process using numerous applications of various plant juices/teas and mud to dye hand woven cotton cloth. Bamana hunters wear Bogolanfini in the form of red mudcloth laden with leather amulets, forceful visual symbols of the supernatural powers believed necessary for successful hunters to possess. The mudcloth is also used to define a person's social status, character or occupation. A rust color is supposed to represent the strong supernatural powers that protect the hunter. It also signifies blood from either the hunt of from warfare and is useful as a form of camouflage. 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.