THE WEAVES

An exclusively male corporation, the weavers have installed their looms on the side of the road, at the entrance of the city on the right when coming from Dalaba. They work there as a family, the know-how being transmitted from generation to generation, in the daily practice. The looms made of wood, pulleys and a few straps, operated by two pedals, are quite rudimentary. The only more technical elements are the reeds used to maintain the threads during weaving. For the rest, it is the know-how and experience of the weaver that makes all the difference. Barely sheltered from the sun by a few old, discarded tarpaulins, some maintain an impressive rhythm for hours. To the mere sound of the wooden shuttles hitting the loom bars, they tirelessly weave long strips of fabric that they roll up on their knees after having unrolled their white and blue cotton reels over several meters in front of them. These rolls, 30 cm wide, will then be cut and assembled into loincloths, then sewn and eventually dyed to make boubous or other clothes. More and more, the weavers use synthetic threads of different colors (green, gold, red...). A small deviation from the tradition but which allows them to diversify the proposed models and to give free rein to their creativity. The weavers offer for sale on the spot some unstitched loincloths, a way also to support the local craft industry.