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Barkcloth Painting The kingdom of Buganda in central Uganda is the best known barkcloth making center in Africa. The bark can be harvested annually from Natal fig trees, the best of which lie south-west of Kampala near the Tanzanian border. Since the bark regrows, the use of barkcloth is an environmentally sustainable practice. Strips that are 1 inch wide and 16 inches long are cut and separated into the light-colored inner layer (the bast) and dark colored outer layer. The bast is then soaked in water and beaten on an anvil using either a wood or stone mallet. Once beaten the bast widens and can become as much as three times the original length. Not only does this process enlarge the bast but its also transforms this raw rough material into a smooth and supple material. It is likely that this is why it was traditionally used for clothing or as shrouds for members of the nobility. Artist: the Rastafarian artist Muruka
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