Textiles: Sankofa Center Wax Cloth Inspiration

The Sankofa Center [Ghana]

The Sankofa Center is a not-for-profit arts-based organisation in Ghana that uses traditional African dance and music to promote an understanding of HIV/AIDS within the communities in which it works. To help support the Center’s programmes and services, a boutique was established that utilises the skills of a cooperative specifically set up the Center to produce a range of products including; clothing, personal and household accessories; the proceeds of which are invested back into the organisation.

It was through one of their current stockists, VivaTerra, that I came across the Sankofa Center’s range of duvet sets and shower curtain products, created from a patchwork of brightly coloured wax cloth prints that, in the case of the shower curtain, is bound to make you instantly alert as you begin the day. The shower curtain is lined with recycled drinking water pouches, collected from the area, which is then cleaned and stitched together to form a waterproof lining. Made from 100% Cotton, the duvet set comes with a duvet and two pillow shams.

[Image credits: The Sankofa Centre top, Duvet Set; 
bottom, Shower Curtain – VivaTerra]

The Sankofa Center was founded in 2002, by Ronnie Shaw an American dancer and academic who was studying at the University of Ghana at the time and later went on to establish a sister charity that is based in California. Dance-dramas and after school dance programmes help to deliver the message, in addition to a programme of classroom-based seminars. The Sankofa Center also provides rapid HIV/AIDS testing, counselling, access to free treatment and medication; and support for those living with HIV/AIDS. Depicted by a bird with its head facing backward, the Sankofa is an ancient Adinkra symbol* meaning ‘go back and get it’; referring to the importance of learning from the past as a way of bettering and correcting any mistakes that may affect the future, and it is this symbol and meaning that gives the Sankofa Center its name and philosophy. (*a visual communication system originating from the Asante of Ghana).

Additional information sourced from:
www.adinkra.org

Additional details:
Duvet Set on VivaTerra priced at: Queen – USD$279; King – USD$329
Shower Curtain on VicaTerra priced at: USD$119
For further information about the Sankofa Center visit: http://thesankofacenter.org
To visit the Sankofa Center Boutique visit: http://thesankofacenter.org/store
To purchase from VivaTerra visit: www.vivaterra.com