Ancestry/Genealogy

TIBEB, ART OF THE WEAVER IN ADDIS ABABA TODAY
Jannes Waples Gibson

Tibeb in this presentation refers to the decoration or pattern which is handwoven with supplementary weft into the border of the shämma (or shemma) worn by women and men in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The shämma traditionally was worn by the Christian populations of the northern and central highlands. (1) Today one can find cloth with the woven tibeb in most markets. There is no imported textile sold in Ethiopia today that takes the place of these valued textiles. Ethiopian artist Maitre Afewerk Tekle has captured the special feeling among Ethiopians for the fine cotton shämma in his painting "Mother Ethiopia" painted in 1963. The woven multicolored tibeb is a recent addition to an ancient way of dressing. It appeared at the time of Emperor Menilek II who took power in 1898 establishing his capital in Addis Ababa. (2) Members of the aristocracy wore shämma with a single color red tilet border that may be the precursor to the tibeb. (3)

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http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1167&context=tsaconf

Ethiopia: 'Tilet'- the Old And the New
By Mariam Belay

The invitation came in an envelope. Inside was not paper or card as usual, but a piece of white hand-made fabric, woven into it with colored thread. "Tilet Art Exhibition, Alem Gallery, Thursday October 27."

The idea of the invitation piece was both innovative and impressive and so was the exhibition. After spending about three months during summer time at "Shiro Meda", where hundreds of weavers are situated making Ethiopian traditional clothes, the owner of the gallery, Tirsit Mengesha organized Thursday's exhibition.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200511040637.html