Beyond the Body: African Textiles as Decorative Art

African cloth has always done more than clothe the body. Beyond the Body explores the tradition of African textiles made for decoration, from their history to making a wall hanging.

Taught online through Ngande Textiles, this is a short course in three parts: two live lectures and a full workshop recording from Accra.

What’s included

Lecture 1: History & Origins (1 hour 30 minutes, live with Q&A)
The history of locally made African textiles used for decoration, how they were made, and how they were used across generations.

Lecture 2: Fabric in Interior Design (1 hour 30 minutes, live with Q&A)
How these textiles have been used in interior design, locally and globally, from traditional settings into contemporary spaces.

Workshop: The Practice (1 hour, recorded)
A full recording of how a batik wall hanging is made in Accra, led by makers there. You’ll see the process of making a textile piece built specifically for decoration.

Recordings of both lectures are included, so you can rewatch anytime.

Key dates

• Enrollment: October 15 to October 30
• Course goes live: October 31
• Live lectures: Sunday, November 1 and Sunday, November 8 at 1 pm EST

Who it’s for
Anyone curious about African textile traditions, interior design, or batik, including artists, designers, collectors, and makers. No prior experience is needed.

Please note
Enrollment closes October 30 and will not reopen until the live sessions have wrapped. Lifetime access to the course content is included once you enroll.

Refund policy
Due to the nature of digital content and live sessions, all sales are final and we are unable to offer refunds once you have enrolled. Please make sure the course is right for you before purchasing.