Ndop Cloth

This Ndop cloth is a resist stitched, indido-dyed cloth of Nigerian or Bamileke origin is used for ceremonial purposes in the grasslands of Cameroon. It is a basic fabric of strip woven cotton that is brought down to the Bamileke villages where women artisans stitch in the geometrical resist design in raphia thread. The cloth is then taken back north where is is dyed with indigo. The dyed cloth is transported back south where the raphia stitches get unpicked to reveal the pattern of white resist against a blue background. Bamileke patterns are usually tribal, geometrical or abstract, while Nigerian designs are more figurative featuring animals such as lizards, scorpions, leopards and sometimes humans. In some instances, strips from both origins are combined. Ndop has many traditional functions including those that are edged with red that are used for male dancers skirts while large cloths are used as ceremonial backdrops and floor coverings.