Adire
The indigo resist-dyed cotton of the Yoruba people of south-west Nigeria.
Also: adire eleko, adire oniko
Adire means tied and dyed in Yoruba. Women in towns such as Abeokuta and Ibadan built it into a major craft in the early 20th century. There are two main kinds. In one, the cloth is tied, folded or stitched with raffia before dyeing. In the other, a paste of cassava starch is painted on by hand with a feather, or pushed through a metal stencil. After repeated dips in the indigo vat, the resist is removed to show pale blue patterns on deep blue. Designs carry names such as Ibadan is sweet.