An Appraisal of the Aesthetic Dimension to the African Philosophy of Cloth

Abstract

In African society, the art and life of the people symbiotically reflect each other. African art has its own history and its own aesthetic concept, as well as powerful emotional content. These traits are reflected in the African philosophy of cloth. Cloth in this context has a metaphorical significance that helps define the concepts of the people and their culture, social relationships, beliefs and understanding of human existence. In other words, Africans enter into a  reciprocal, reflexive relationship with their cloth metaphor, through which they gain a more insightful understanding both of themselves and of their  conception of cloth. This understanding goes beyond the superficial beauty of the African cloth. African cloth has an inherent aesthetic in its symbolic usage, motifs, colours and even in the message it carries.

Key words: culture, cloth metaphor, aesthetic symbolism