Japan govt funds bark-cloth project
Dec 06, 2007
THE Japanese government has funded a $90,000 project to modernise and popularise the use of bark-cloth in Uganda. According to the Uganda National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the project, to be set up in Mpigi, will encourage massive
By Geresom Musamali
and John Kasozi
THE Japanese government has funded a $90,000 project to modernise and popularise the use of bark-cloth in Uganda. According to the Uganda National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the project, to be set up in Mpigi, will encourage massive planting of fig trees for environmental and economic benefits.
The cloth is made from the bark of fig trees. The commonly used species is called Mutuba in Luganda. Its scientific name is Ficus Natalensis.
Others are Ntawebwa, Ntessa, Kabindi/Butana, Nabujji, Namweluka, Ennembe, Ntakile and Katana.
The bark is stripped off a living tree, which soon regenerates another bark. The fibrous material is beaten with grooved mallets to make it thin, flat and flexible before being dried.
“We want to revitalise and promote the sharing of knowledge on bark-cloth making,†said the UNESCO secretary general, Augustine Omare Okurut, during the launch of the project at the National Theatre and Cultural Centre in Kampala.
and John Kasozi
THE Japanese government has funded a $90,000 project to modernise and popularise the use of bark-cloth in Uganda. According to the Uganda National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the project, to be set up in Mpigi, will encourage massive planting of fig trees for environmental and economic benefits.
The cloth is made from the bark of fig trees. The commonly used species is called Mutuba in Luganda. Its scientific name is Ficus Natalensis.
Others are Ntawebwa, Ntessa, Kabindi/Butana, Nabujji, Namweluka, Ennembe, Ntakile and Katana.
The bark is stripped off a living tree, which soon regenerates another bark. The fibrous material is beaten with grooved mallets to make it thin, flat and flexible before being dried.
“We want to revitalise and promote the sharing of knowledge on bark-cloth making,†said the UNESCO secretary general, Augustine Omare Okurut, during the launch of the project at the National Theatre and Cultural Centre in Kampala.