Lamba Akotifahana

The island of Madagascar is situated in the Indian Ocean and as such absorbed influence from countries surrounding that ocean. African design elements, Chinese silk and Indonesian garments contribute to a rich textile tradition which is unique.

Lamba Akotifahana is the most iconic of Malagasy textiles. Originally serving dual purposes, Lambas were worn by the living and covered the dead. They were produced in Highland Madagascar by women as far back as the 17th century, reaching popularity in the first half of the 19th century.

Long striped panels of silk decorated with supplementary weft patterning. The shapes created by the supplementary weft can be geometric, figurative or botanical. They, as well as the colors of the stripes, allude to the wearer’s social status.

As Lambas were labor intensive to make they were expensive and worn by the wealthy. Gifted to diplomats and dignitaries they were brought to Europe in the 19th century where they caused quite a sensation due to their vibrant colors and exquisite craftsmanship. A definitive collection of them, which was at the National Museum of the Queen’s Palace in Antananarivo, was destroyed by a fire in the 1990s, rendering them even rarer.