Bark to The Roots
Bark to the Roots (B2TR) is a José Hendo initiative anchored
in the ethos of the Sustainable Development Goals,
reminding us to preserve both our heritage and the environment.
Through the one-million mutuba tree-planting campaign,
B2TR is addressing the climate change crisis. The mutuba tree is
crucial to the balancing of the eco system where it grows,
thus saving a heritage and helping the environment in one effort.
The Vision
Bark to the Roots (B2TR) is a José Hendo initiative anchored in the ethos of the Sustainable Development Goals, reminding us to preserve both our heritage and the environment. Through the one-million mutuba tree-planting campaign, B2TR is addressing the climate change crisis. The mutuba tree is crucial to the balancing of the eco system where it grows, thus saving a heritage and helping the environment in one effort.
Through the one-million mutuba tree-planting campaign, B2TR is promoting a practice that was recognised by UNESCO.
In 2005 Barkcloth was proclaimed a ‘Masterpiece of Intangible Cultural Heritage’ and in 2008 it was eventually inscribed on the Representative list. Barkcloth is one of the oldest cloths made by man. The technique by which the bark of the mutuba tree is manually processed to create barkcloth is centuries old, it predates the weaving era.
The launch of B2TR in 2014 brought together people who commercially produce various items in barkcloth. The initiative had a boost in 2015 when CNN filmed the community of barkcloth makers in Bukomansimbi as the first trees were planted for the program Inside Africa. The program also documented the traditional harvesting process for barkcloth.
B2TR endeavors to bring together people who are working with barkcloth in different and innovative ways including those who harvest it and those who are using it.
This year is the fourth annual Bark to the Roots (B2TR) event titled Signs Of The Now. It is set to push on our mutuba tree planting campaign and shine the light on how we can all make a difference now that the climate change crisis cannot be ignored.
The event to be held at the Serena Hotel Kampala will be hosted by José Hendo. There will be displays demonstrating the making barkcloth by the Bukomansimbi Organic Tree Farmers Association (BOTFA) who are growing the trees and training the younger generation into the ancient practice of processing mutuba tree bark to create the cloth. Further details can be found below.
News from B2TR
African Textile Museum presents “Barkcloth to the Roots”
26 February 2022 in the African Textile Museum at the New Black WallStreet Market in Stonecrest, GA
Barkcloth to the Roots Exhibition is launched at the African Textile Museum in Stonecrest, Georgia.
Two Barkcloth installations created by Jose Hendo, to the Museum, in honour of Black History Month are donated by the The Uganda Embassy in Washington.
José’s concept board
Guests at the reception
Opening speech
Barkcloth accessories
The VIRTUAL MUTUBA TREE
Thanks to all who have continously supported our Mutuba Tree Planting efforts. On this Earth Day 22 April 2021, Bark To The Roots(B2TR) is inviting you to reconnect with mother nature by giving a gift to the planet through the VIRTUAL MUTUBA TREE. Your donation of £20 goes towards a mutuba tree seedling and training young men in learning how to nurture and harvest the trees, and to make barkcloth. In return not only are you giving back to the planet but we will adorn a piece of barkcloth with your initials, we then upload this image as a leaf onto the Virtual Mutuba Tree that will be on http://www.barktotheroots.org and http://www.josehendo.
About José Hendo
London-based eco-sustainable fashion designer José Hendo is the founder of this initiative. It has now grown from an initiative to an NGO. She felt the need to connect to the community that has kept this tradition alive and the desire to bring barkcloth to the forefront of contemporary design and manufacture globally.