Waraniéné

Waraniéné is a weaving village on the edge of Korhogo where men work narrow-strip looms in the open, producing bands of cotton around ten centimetres wide that are then sewn edge to edge into cloth. Traditional loincloth weaving in Côte d'Ivoire, practised by the Senufo among several other communities, is recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage. The whole process from spinning to finished panel can be watched and cloth is sold directly.

What to look for

• The narrow-strip looms - men weaving bands about ten centimetres wide.
• The joining - strips sewn edge to edge into finished cloth.
• The dyeing - cotton coloured before weaving in the traditional palette.
• The sale - finished cloth sold directly by the weavers.

When to go

November to February is the dry season and the most comfortable. Weekday mornings are when most looms are working. The rains from June to October slow the work.

Things to know

Prices quoted to visitors start high and bargaining is expected. Some cloth sold as handwoven is machine-made and asking to see it on the loom matters. Photography of the weavers should be asked about.

Nearby

Korhogo is nearby, and Fakaha is north-west.

Key facts