Tapa Paper

Tapa paper is not a true paper and is also called kapa paper. It is a paper from South Africa that is deep brown, soft and textured. It is a thick paper from the inner bark of various plants and bear vibrant colors and intricate geometric patterns.

Making of Tapa Paper

• Strip the bark from the inner bast of mulberry trees or any another plant.
• Beat with wooden beaters and scrape away from the inner fibers.
• The strips of fibre are dried, soaked and pounded until they become wide and very flexible.
• A number of strips are then felted together to form a fine white cloth ready to be decorated with home made or natural dyes.
• Complex patterns are built up from designs tablets which are carved into wood.
• The sheet of paper is laid over the tablets and rubbed with a pad dipped in any good natural dye.
• This transfers the pattern to the tapa.
• Elaborate freehand painting is sometimes used to finish it off and some kinds are intricately cut out and fringed.
• This makes beautiful tapa paper.

Applications of Tapa Paper

Tapa paper plays an important part in religious rites and ceremonial gift giving in the Pacific Islands. Different Fijian Islands have their own distinctive Tapa designs and patterns. These beautifully made papers are popular for their aesthetic values and are widely used for decorative purposes in weddings and other formal occasions. They are also among the most commonly used paper for crafting projects. The paper is decorated with a tremendous variety of images and motifs.