A dyeing workshop in Dakar is two days to learn batik, tie & dye or indigo dyeing, or a month for a proper course. Materials and guidance are provided, the dyed piece is yours, and children are welcome with an adult.

Batik, tie & dye, indigo: three techniques

Depending on the day, the workshop offers batik (dyeing fabric with a wax resist), tie & dye (folding, twisting and knotting) or indigo, practices handed down from generation to generation. The session begins with an introduction: preparing the fabric, choosing the motifs, using wax for batik, folds and knots for tie & dye, then dye baths and layering colours. You also discover the symbols and motifs of West African textile art, and the importance of colours in local culture.

Then it is time to practise: everyone creates their own design, draws, knots or waxes depending on the technique chosen, works the layers of colour, then fixes the dye. At the end, you leave with a personalised piece: a decorative fabric, a scarf or a square of textile. The colours obtained depend on the concentration, the time and the baths used; the fabrics are often cotton, which absorbs better.

Two options are offered, both per person: a two-day batik workshop, and a one-month dyeing course. Some dyes need drying time: a carrying support is provided. Wear comfortable clothes that you do not mind getting stained.

If you live in Dakar, the one-month course is a real project to take on. If you are visiting, the two-day workshop fits into a stay. The workshop suits adults and accompanied children alike.

Where does the workshop take place in Dakar?

The place varies within Dakar: an open space, a semi-open one or an indoor studio depending on the location. The Plateau has a concentration of galleries and art shops, as well as textile designers’ studios; the Médina, founded in 1914, is a working-class neighbourhood known for its markets, street art and creativity. The Dakar region gives the wider setting.

Around the dyeing

To extend your time, the craft village of Soumbedioune and the Kermel market sell fabrics, sculptures and decorative objects, and the emblematic markets of Dakar give an idea of local crafts. The western Corniche is good for a walk with a view of the sea. Other dyeing, batik and textile workshops and craft and skills workshops are available around the country.