ORIGINS

Every culture has its art and textile way of life, and Tembe is that of bos’kondre people in the Caribbean and parts of South American. This form of art is maintained from time to time on, and new art and improvements emerge with every passing generation. When you look to comprise Tembe into your world, consider thinking past the stunning aesthetic enchantment and recall hidden messages at the back of the design and art.

Hold a masterpiece of Tembe Art in your hands, and the first thing you notice is likely the bright, saturated shades of yellow, red, blue, and green. You might observe several rows of patterns, which are identical on de design. That lets you know it was made by hand and imagination. If you know what to look for, you may even be able to “read” it, gleaning a proverb or political statement from its threads.

Tembe comes from a craftmanship practice that originated in Africa centuries ago. The art has come to symbolize cultural affiliations from West Africa across the diaspora, but legend has it that a spider spinning a complex web inspired the earliest Tembe techniques and designs.

Weaving Tembe on cloth is a cultural tradition of the marron tribe of Suriname (also known as bos'kondre) people, these fabrics were originally used exclusively to dress kings and their courts. Each form, pattern, and color has a distinct name and meaning, and the cloth often includes woven symbols, which represent concepts or sayings.

Black : Spiritual Strength, Maturity, Mourning and Funeral rites

Red : Blood, Death, Political Passion, Strength

Blue : Peace, Love, Unity, and Harmony

Gold or Yellow: Wealth, Royalty

Green : Growth, Harvest, Renewal

White : Purity, Cleansing Rites, Festive Occasions

Purple or Maroon: Mother Earth, Healing, Protection from evil

Tembe cloth and Tembe crafts are also widely available, especially in cities where West Africans have settled across the U.S. and Europe. Tembe has also come to symbolize a sort of solidarity with an African heritage for the Suriname culture—most recently, and controversially, displayed by the group of senators who wore Tembe cloth going overseas.

A tell-tale identifier of Tembe cloth handmade style of Tembe Craft, which braids together. These braids are then cut and sewn together to create larger swaths that can be worn on the body. By placing patterns into one another, meaning for the whole piece emerges. Historically, when Tembe was used solely for royal courts or prestigious occasions, the strips were made of silk; today you’ll also find Tembe made of cotton or rayon blends. While crafting Tembe is traditionally men’s work, it is common to see both men and women doing these beautiful Tembe Arts. The wearable artworks are mostly done by women.