Textile Details

'Embroidered Godon', Elisabeth Menodji, Cooperative of Embroidery Studies, Broderie, Kabalye. (Photo: Colin Peck)

Chad is one of the poorest countries in Africa, so the Cooperative of Embroidery Studies, Broderie Kabalye, has meant salvation for Elisabeth Menodji and the other women in the group. Even so, her embroidery work for the organisation only provides one meal a day, so she and her family of 11 often go to bed hungry. Elisabeth was caught up in the 1979 conflict that destroyed much of N'Djamena and spent time in a refugee camp in the Cameroon. Back at home, she became part of the women's cooperative.

One thing the members produce are "godons", the narrow hand-woven cotton towels that the women of Mambarona weave on traditional looms. Broderie Kabalye must buy the godons. Their size is restricted by the size of the loom, so sometimes two godons are sewn together to make tablecloths and the seam is hidden by embroidery. The embroiderers, like Elisabeth, use traditional designs copied from pottery and house decorations. They also make aprons, shoulder bags, blouses and other clothes.

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