Next year, the Musée de l’Homme will be devoting an exhibition to wax, the emblematic African fabric whose popularity has spread beyond the continent’s borders! Entitled Entre héritage et réappropriation, the event opens in February 2025.
Tartan, toile de Jouy and wax are just a few of the fabrics that have become cult favorites. Adorned with bright colors and strong patterns, wax is the fabric associated with Africa!
Omnipresent in the western part of the continent (Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire…), wax has, over the last ten years or so, carved out a golden place for itself in the worlds of Western fashion and decoration. Transformed from its traditional uses, wax is now used everywhere, from canvas tennis shoes and women’s suits and skirts to chairs, plates and tote bags!
Everything you need to know (at last) about wax
With its next exhibition, the second part of the Migrations cycle, the Musée de l’Homme takes a closer look at this fabric, its history and its recent popularity.
Wax, Between Heritage and Reappropriation will shed light on the fabric’s little-known Indonesian origins, its manufacture, its journey to West Africa and its spread across the continent! This will be an opportunity to see a multitude of incredibly patterned fabrics on parade, to admire their boundless creativity and to grasp the symbolism of certain models carrying claims, messages or community markers.
Other issues will also be addressed, such as the commercialization and industrialization of this fabric, which has been coveted for decades, and its virtual monopoly on the African fabric market. Finally, contemporary artists and fashion designers (Omar Victor Diop, Gombo Wax, Thandiwe Muriu,…) will share their views on this fabric and its many facets.
📍 Address: Musée de l’Homme
17 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75116 Paris
📆 Date: February 5 to September 7, 2025
🎟️ Admission: €20 full price
Further information on Musée de l’Homme