Mudcloth of Mali: 10 Skills in 90 Seconds
· Episode 4 of 10
Episode 4 / 10
Fermented Mud: The Dye That Breathes
Why does bogolanfini dyeing require fermented mud rather than freshly collected mud?
Fermentation concentrates iron hydroxides and organic acids in the mud. Those iron compounds react with tannins in the cloth through complexation to form a stable dark pigment. Fresh mud has too low an iron concentration, producing weak color that fades quickly.
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