Voinjama, Lofa – The production of hand-woven attire forms part of Liberia’s cultural heritage but research has shown that due to increased globalization that has given a rise to the influx of imported materials mostly western style clothing on the Liberian market, the locally produced fabric which origin in Liberia can be traced to Lofa County remains under serious threat.
Like in Ghana and Togo where the Kente fabric is famous; the Djerma Cloth and Hausa Cloth in Niger and Nigeria; the Dogon Cloth in Mali and Burkina Faso; the Korhogo Cloth in the Ivory Coast; Liberia, years ago, was widely known in West Africa and beyond for the production of the Country Cloth, thanks to Lofa County from whence the art originated.
But the buoyancy in the art of spinning and weaving cotton into Country Cloth has scaled-down to a larger extent, to the point of arousing the attention of the Lofa County Chapter of the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS), that has now begun sourcing support to help revamp the industry.
The (LNRCS) with support from the Danish Red Cross, recently donated two sets of brand new design-sewing electric machines and a generator to cotton producers in Lofa County’s Kolahun District.
The gesture is intended to help preserve heritage Liberia’s heritage, as far as its local textile production industry is concerned, according to Mr. Joseph Varney, LNRCS Lofa coordinator.
Joseph disclosed the (LNRCS) is working with a group of rural women based in Kolahun, Lofa County to improve and increase cotton production in that part of the country, so as to transform the raw cotton into finishing products.
According to him, funding generated from the sale of the finished products of the women’s work, meaning the actual amount of Country Cloth that will be produced by the women will be used for their empowerment.
He cautioned the ladies to wisely use the equipment, which he said are intended for the betterment of their livelihood, and so that they also, in turn, look after the educational sojourn of their children.
Hawa Tulay, spokesperson for the Kulahun based females, on the behalf of her colleagues, lauded the Liberia National Red Cross for providing them the equipment at what she termed a critical stage.
According to Madam Tulay the provision of the two design-sewing electrical machines was timely as they continue to strive for the support of their various families and the educational pursuit of their children.
