Nakunte Diarra

**Nakunte Diarra** (born c. 1941, she die 7 May 2020) na she be Malian textile artist dem know for ein *bògòlanfini*.

## Life
Diarra first learn de basics of *bògòlanfini*, anaa mud-dyeing, from ein mommie den grandmommie wen na she dey four years old. Na dem practise dis specific craft for centuries by women of de Bamana peoples, wey dey live insyd de Beledougou region insyd Mali.

She marry a farmer, Koumi Traore, wey na dem get three kiddies. Like ein grandmommie before am, Diarra teach mud-dyeing to ein granddaughter, den, for a modern twist insyd, she sanso begin dey teach de craft to men, wey dey include ein son.

Na Diarra base insyd Kolokani for chaw of ein career, buh she travel twice to de US make she give workshops den demonstrations of ein technique.

## Works
Diarra be a textile artist dem know for ein *bògòlanfini,* anaa mud cloth. While de popularity of mudcloth den de international market give am lead to a simplification of traditional techniques for pursuit of mass production, even among artisans, Diarra work insyd de traditional Beledougou style, wich be distinct from de mud-cloth traditions of de Dogon people insyd Mali den from mud-cloth traditions insyd Côte d'Ivoire. De textile, especially insyd ein traditional form, be seen as a symbol of Malian cultural identity, wey ebe dis wey Diarra dey embrace for ein work insyd.

Dem know Diarra ein work for ein near-black color, wich she dey achieves by she use iron-rich mud from a particular stream near ein village: plus am, she be able make she achieve sharp contrast den clarity insyd ein designs. Ein work dey employ a mix of traditional motifs dem arrange insyd fresh compositions. Older, more traditional patterns na she dub "Bamalan," den newer designs she dey bell "Mali," for reference to ein (den ein country ein) independence.

Diarra ein work get sam interesting unique aspects. While chaw mud cloth artists work between de months of October den May, wen e be dry wey crops no dey grow, Diarra dey work year round, wich ein husby dey encourage, even if e dey mean she for take time away from household chores anaa farming. Additionally, Diarra always dey paint ein designs freehanded, as e be traditional, widout de use of straight edges anaa oda implements tmake e guide ein hand for application of ein often-geometrical designs. 
## Awards den recognition
Insyd 1993, na dem display 30 of Diarra ein works insyd a single-artist exhibition organize by de Indiana University Art Museum wey sanso travel to de Fashion Institute of Technology den beyond. 

Insyd 1994, na she be hosted insyd de Ohio home of Dr. Barbara G. Hoffman for a five-week residency for Cleveland State University for conjunction plus de exhibition of ein work der den for de Cleveland Museum of Art. From Cleveland, de exhibition travel to de Indianapolis Art Museum. Nine years later, na she be a member of de artistic delegation dem send by de Malian government make dem represent de art of bògòlanfini for de Smithsonian Folklife Festival insyd 2003. Na ein art be de subject of an article, "Nakunte Diarra: Bogolanfini Artist of the Bélédougou", dem publish insyd de journal *African Arts* insyd 1994, den of a DVD produce by Dr.Barbara G. Hoffman insyd 2005. Na dem commission two pieces by Diarra for de collection of de Indiana University Art Museum, while oda cloths dey insyd de collections of de National Museum of African Art, de National Museum of Natural History, de Cleveland Museum of Art, de Newark Museum of Art den de National Museum of Mali. Na dem represent Diarra ein work insyd de exhibition, "Earth Matters," for de National Museum of African Art insyd 2014. Na Diarra be de subject of *My Baby*, kiddies dema book by Jeanette Winter, wey dey feature a fictional account of de Malian artist as she create mudcloth during ein pregnancy give ein own kiddie.

## References