Kembe
1960s | Barbara Plankensteiner
The seemingly baroque design of this peacock blue men’s ensemble has a name, woven into a selvedge that has been incorporated into the top (dansiki): ‘SUPERIOR QUALITY “AJA-LO-LERU ATARI AJANAKU” SPECIALLY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR OKUNOWU BROTHERS WEST AFRICA’ and ‘DELICRON “EXTRA AL’ADE”’. We have not yet been able to match these details to a place of manufacture. In any case, it sounds impressive and expensive, as the golden crowns emphasise – and that was probably the point.
The seemingly baroque design of this peacock blue men’s ensemble has a name, woven into a selvedge that has been incorporated into the top (dansiki): ‘SUPERIOR QUALITY “AJA-LO-LERU ATARI AJANAKU” SPECIALLY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR OKUNOWU BROTHERS WEST AFRICA’ and ‘DELICRON “EXTRA AL’ADE”’. We have not yet been able to match these details to a place of manufacture. In any case, it sounds impressive and expensive, as the golden crowns emphasise – and that was probably the point.
Collector:
Barbara Plankensteiner DNB
Time:
1960s
Entry Date:
2009
Object Name
Trousers Kembe
Culture
Yoruba
Material/technology:
Brocade fabric from cotton and rayon; plain weave
Copyright
Weltmuseum Wien
Collection area
Sub-Saharan Africa
Invs.
188523_b
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