From designer bookbindings to eye-catching homeware, leather produced in Nigeria – prized for its premium quality and impeccable aesthetics – has been used to elevate everything from books, shoes and bags to one-of-a-kind personal items for centuries. Take a closer look at never-before-seen examples from across the University of Cambridge’s collections, from the 1800s to now, and uncover a story of empire, craft and labour.

Today, Nigeria’s leather production has hit the spotlight in conversations about the uncredited labour and materials which continue to fuel designer fashion, but the story is a much older one. Bound Together lifts the lid on how, where, and who made these leathers and leather objects, exploring the rich but often unacknowledged history of leatherworking in northern Nigeria.

This display is based on research for African Collections Futures, a research project developing new approaches to the African and Africa-related objects in the University. The work forms part of the Collections-Connections-Communities Strategic Research Initiative.