Education - Timbuktu Research and Design

welcome to

Timbuktu Research and design education platform

Knowledge

Our courses blend hands-on training in traditional and contemporary textile techniques with theoretical classes exploring methodologies from African academics.

the Teachers

We collaborate exclusively with qualified educators and industry experts to co-create and deliver courses that merge Indigenous African knowledge with innovation practices.

Flexible

We offer online Live and self-paced sessions, physical group or one-to-one sessions all teaching digital design and traditional craft methods from a variety of disciplines.

Content

Our courses and workshops feature both specific projects and general practical-theoretical content, with a dedicated focus on the continent's vast textile knowledge and methodologies.

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE MUST PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE REVIVAL OF THE [TEXTILE] INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO NARROW THE CULTURAL GAP, IN THE CONCEPTUAL APPRECIATION [OF TEXTILE PRACTICES AND DESIGN]. ITS TRANSFORMATION CAN OCCUR WHEN INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IS RECOGNISED AS AN ASPECT TO TAKE DOMINANT POSITION IN FUTURE [TEXTILE] INDUSTRY FUTURES. - TANDY & MAWERE

Discourse weavers

Our curriculum engages with the critical frameworks of pioneering African and Diasporic scholars—the intellectual architects who deconstructed colonial narratives to reclaim indigenous epistemologies. Their work provides the foundational theories that allow us to critically examine heritage, not as a static artifact, but as a dynamic system for contemporary innovation and authentic creative practice.

Frantz Fanon

Frantz Fanon (1925–1961) was a revolutionary Afro-Caribbean psychiatrist and philosopher from Martinique. His seminal works critically analyzed the psychological effects of colonialism and the path to liberation.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o was a foundational Kenyan writer and academic. His seminal work, Decolonising the Mind, argues for linguistic liberation as a core act of cultural and intellectual freedom.

Paulo Freire

Paulo Freire (1921–1997) was an influential Brazilian educator and philosopher. His seminal pedagogy, outlined in Pedagogy of the Oppressed, champions critical consciousness and dialogical learning as tools for liberation.

Professor Munyaradzi Mawere

Professor Munyaradzi Mawere is a prominent Zimbabwean philosopher and African studies scholar. His extensive research critically examines indigenous knowledge systems, ethics, and the socio-political dimensions of heritage in post-colonial Africa.

Kamau Brathwaite

Kamau Brathwaite (1930–2020) was a seminal Barbadian poet and theorist, credited with pioneering key theories of cultural creolization. His work on 'nation language' champions Caribbean linguistic fusion as a vital post-colonial identity.

Édouard Glissant

Édouard Glissant (1928–2011) was a major Martinican philosopher and poet. He is a foundational theorist of creolization, whose concepts of 'Relation' and 'Antillanité' define identity as an ever-evolving, interconnected network of cultural exchange.

our courses

The Tellem Textiles

Explore 10th-16th century Tellem textiles from the Mali Empire. This self-paced course guides you through three structured sections, blending historical lessons with interactive knowledge quizzes.

Decolonizing praxis

Coming soon: This course peels back non-indigenous layers in your practice, consciously designing work methods to decolonize and sensitize both you and your products to your heritage.

Decoloniality in textile design

Coming soon: This course redefines contemporary textile design through Africa’s heritage. The Afrokology of Ubuntu, Afrofuturism, decolonization, and Indigenous methodologies informs a future-focused design process.

Introspective transformative design

Coming soon: A design methodology derived from African theories. It uses Afrokology for critical self-examination to decolonize practice and consciously create future-oriented, community-affirming work.

Crochet: Battery-bank case with symbols

Crochet a functional battery case, incorporating a shop-bought cultural symbol. This project blends practical craft with meaningful design, embedding heritage into an everyday tech accessory.

Cross-Stitch: Tuareg Symbols

Coming soon:This course transforms ancient Tuareg symbols—a visual language of protection and identity—into contemporary cross-stitch designs, merging deep cultural heritage with modern creative practice.

registration EDUCATION NEWSLETTER form

Stay ahead in your creative journey. Register for our newsletter for exclusive insights on decolonizing design, heritage techniques, and early course access. Leave your WATTSAPP number to discuss African education with us.

it's completely free

Education Rooted in traditions, growing with innovation

Contact info

Tellem Heritage textiles, Mali - 10th-16th Century