I always wash Afrian Fabric. They are manufactured in many countries and the method i different. Some have a lot of sizing in them and needs to be washed out before using.
many years ago I pent 2 years in West Africa. Fabricd printed in Europe ere prefered by the native people because they were color fast. those printed in the orient were not. I kno method of printing have changed in later years.
The people would taste the fabric and if salty they would know it as color fast. I have made small quilts using the Afrian prints and enjoy the process because the fabri makes the quilt no matter the deign and the simpler the better.
I always make some that are crib size because all babies that get our quilts are not blue eyed and blond haired.