This past weekend the movie The Black Panther was released worldwide and we were there to see it! It’s a huge cultural event. It’s the first-ever all-black cast movie premiere of a superhero centered around the fictitious African nation of Wakanda.
Little one and I have talked a lot about the movie, but that’s for another post.
However, there’s one thing we will discuss in this post is that the Border Tribe (living on the outskirts of Wakanda) all wear a blanket wrapped around them. -> (Spoiler alert if you haven’t seen the movie) These blankets conceal their weapons and serve as a shield.
Looking to tie in the symbolism of the blankets I found a fun art project that I can do with my son: Senufo mud painting. The Senufo people that live in Cote d’Ivoire (the Ivory coast) of West Africa wear clothing with mud paintings. The mud painting were drawings of animals because they believed the spirits of these animals will protect them from injury and have a successful hunt. They would make the black paint out of the mud and they’d boil leaves to make a liquid dye. They would draw an outline of the animals such as crocodiles, turtles, monkeys, and lizards in their work, and other designs. They use the thick mud to paint.
Map of Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
Flag: Image Source
Map: Image Source
For this art project, we will be making Senufo mud paintings on a t-shirt. This is a messy art project! Supplies you’ll need are:
- dirt
- kitchen strainer
- bowl
- water
- spoon
- black poster or nontoxic acrylic paint
- white t-shirt (a used one will be better) Put cardboard inside the shirt to keep the paint from seeping to the other side.
- pencil
- black permanent marker
- toothbrush
- paint brushes
Have your child draw with a pencil the animals he’d like on his shirt, and you can trace them over with the permanent marker. While he’s doing that you can put the dirt in the strainer and set it over a bowl or plastic container.
Pour water over it and press the dirt with a spoon.
Carefully pour out the dark water and mix it with the paint.
Now have fun painting! Using a toothbrush scoop out the mud paint or use the paintbrush.
Once finished let your shirt dry overnight. Shake of any excess mud and hand wash with cold water and let it air dry.
Below are some examples of Senufo mud clothing.
For more resources on Africa take a look at these great posts:
From Mama Tortuga Ghana Independence Day
From Biracial Bookworms How to Celebrate Nelson Mandela Day
From Travel with Kat Top 10 things to do in The Gambia on a budget
From Our Whole Village Morocco Family Holiday
From Kid World Citizen
Kids Share Their Corner of the World: Kenya
Kids Learn About Mozambique
Ghanaian Kente Cloth Kids Art Project
Egypt Vacation Ideas for Kids
Explore South Africa Through Children’s Books
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From Multicultural Kid Blogs
Four Ways To Teach Children About Kenya
10 Fun Facts About Tanzania for Kids
Top 10 Fun Facts About Egypt
10 Fun Facts About the United Arab Emirates
10 Facts About Somalia
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8 Fun Facts about Ghana + Activities and Games to Learn More!
From All Done Monkey
South Africa: Mealie Bread Recipe and Favorite Books
Egypt: Spiced Oranges {Around the World in 12 Dishes}
Egypt: Raspberry Lemon Cooler {Around the World in 12 Dishes}
Coconut Oatmeal Pudding: Learning about Senegal {Around the World in 12 Dishes}
From Crafty Moms Share
Around the World in 12 Dishes: South Africa — Sosaties
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Our Virtual Flat Stanley is in Kenya!
Around the World in 12 Dishes: Senegal — Poulet Yassa
From World Music with Daria
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From Ketchup Moms
Book review –The Rain School by James Rumford
From Joy Sun Bear
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From Globe Trottin’ Kids
South Africa’s Flag: A Symbol of Unity and Progress
A Taste of South Africa
Welcome to our fifth annual Black History Month series! Follow along all month long as we explore the rich history and cultures of Africa and African-Americans.
You can also follow our Black History board on Pinterest:
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February 5
Great Family Reads: Picture Books for Black History Month
February 7
Mommy Evolution: Must Read Middle School Books for Black History Month
February 8
Colours of Us: 17 New Picture Books About Black History
February 9
GUBlife: 5 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month with Your Family
February 12
Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes: Circle Unbroken Children’s Book and Gullah Traditions and Heritage
February 13
All Done Monkey: Harriet Tubman – Learning Resources for Kids
February 15
A Crafty Arab: 6 Books on Muslim American Slaves
February 16
Hispanic Mama
Creative World of Varya on Multicultural Kid Blogs: 10 Fun Facts About Tanzania for Kids
February 19
Biracial Bookworms: Our Invisible Armor – Heroes of Black History
February 23
Growing Up Gupta on Multicultural Kid Blogs
February 26
Crafty Moms Share
February 26
Creative World of Varya
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