Cloth

1983

Light purple dyed piece of fabric with white cut-out motive (see M6-46). On the light purple cloth, white areas with a cross and the letters CWA have been worked out with wax (with the help of a stamp).\Pattern: Stamped motif with a cross and the letter CWA(see M6-47). CWA is an abbreviation for Christian Women Association.\This lapa (see M6-48) is a sample patch. The Christian Women Association (CWA) had something special to celebrate and the CWA had decided to be uniformly dressed for this special occasion (see M6-48). To the extent that all members would be dressed in the same fabric, namely purple cotton (violet) with the emblem of the association. The CWA had had a stamp (5270-57) made for this purpose and had asked Mrs. Kamara to make a sample patch. If they liked the sample patch, Mrs. Kamara would be commissioned to dye about 3 dozen lapas for them. (And that is a tall order for Mrs. Kamara). Mrs. Kamara was indeed given the assignment, but not before a new stamp was made. For, when the CWA saw this sample patch, they liked the color and they were also satisfied with the stamping (see M6-47), but not with the stamp itself. For the letters W and A are not very clear. Mrs. Kamara is Muslim and the CWA is, as the name says, an Association for Christian Women. In Sierra Leone, Christians and Muslims live peacefully side by side and it is not strange that Mrs. Kamara, as a Muslim, is commissioned by a Christian association to make Gara. Mrs. Kamara has nine children, some of whom have been converted to Christianity. This does not bother her. After all, she says, there is only one God and what does it matter how you honor him.