African Art

Change   ~   Art   ~   Quality

Africa is a truly unique continent. With over 53 countries, and about a thousand different languages; this is a land where diversity is normal. While in Africa, one finds different ethnic living styles within ten miles of each other to be the norm. Even though group loyalties run very deep, people still have long-standing relationships with each other.

Find out the most astounding change in Africa

Africa today is changing at a pace faster than has ever been seen in the history of civilization. Changes that took many centuries to complete in Western Europe and North America have taken place in just a few short decades in Africa.

Where else in all of history have we ever seen people moving so quickly from tribal societies to modern nations? Progress in African nations has been happening at a rate, and in a manner not experienced anywhere else on the globe.

The goals of independence and nationalism among many of Africa’s people, has sped up the process of breaking down barriers between tribal groups. This merging of tribal cultures has further weakened the traditions already made weak from contact with western civilization.

Art is one of the most important parts of any culture

In Africa traditional art is becoming a thing of the past as quickly as the continent changes. With the disappearance of traditions and other aspects of African culture, works of traditional African art are becoming more and scarcer. The art of previous generations was produced to meet religious and social needs that no longer exist within most groups of Africans today.

Quality works of ancient African art are harder to find

The value of African art has gone up accordingly; and much of the traditional artwork has left the continent for private collections overseas. People living in poverty will often give up family heirlooms; some passed down through generations; in order to survive.

Artisans who create African art are also adopting new world views. This makes traditional work of modern vintage somewhat less meaningful and true to the original heritage. Just as the culture of Africa is changing fast, in the same way its art, as a reflection of that culture, also changes quickly.

New African art is not by any means inferior however, just different. Just as modern Western art has taken prominence over older forms, so too, modern African art is replacing the traditional. This brings with it its own new meaning and aesthetic significance. African culture is shown through art in paintings and sculpture, as well as in jewelry and other items of everyday life.

Friday’s Proverb

Once the mushroom has sprouted from the earth, there is no turning back.

(Luo proverb)

The Massai are one of the most famous African ethnic people known today.  Living in southern Kenya and North central Tanzania these tall graceful people dress in many varieties of red and seem to refuse against all pressures to settle down to a village or agricultural life believing it a sin to cultivate land, as it is considered ruined for grazing after cultivation.  They are nomadic and live by herding cattle and goats.  Money is not as important to them, instead they use cattle as a sign of wealth.  Instead of villages the Massai build temporary corrals where the woman construct huts of clay, these are lived in for a little while and then abandoned.  

The Massai are a very communal people, and from a very young age children are divided into age groups to which they remain faithful to throughout their life.  The boys and girls are kept together until the girls reach puberty, at which time they are immediately married off to men at least 2 age groups ahead of them.  Men advance through different divisions in their age group hoping to achieve the status of a warrior.  Traditionally, the only way to achieve this status is to single handily kill a lion with a spear. 

Known for their elaborate beadwork, the Massai seem to be obsessed with red, they rub red dye all over their bodies and also cover themselves in elaborate red beadwork.  This beadwork is very famous and is one of the most common things which they trade.  The patterns of the beads identify different age groups of the Massai and many times young men will cover themselves in beads.  Another art form of the Massai is hair braiding.  Most Massai will spend days doing elaborate hair designs.  Men will sometimes grow their hair into huge braids similar to the women.  Here is some Massai African Art.

Wednesday’s Recipe

Dorowat - Ethiopian Spicy Braised Chicken

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 oz. Tomato Sauce
• 1/4 Cup Paprika
• 1/4 Cup Dry Red Wine
• 1 Tablespoon Grated Ginger Root
• 1 Teaspoon Red Pepper
• 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cardamom
• 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
• 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Clove
• 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Allspice
• 2 Medium Chopped Onions
• 2 Minced Garlic Cloves
• 2 Tablespoons Cooking Oil
• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Turmeric
• 3 Pounds Broiled Chicken, cut up
• 1/4 Cup Dry Red Wine

Start off by making the red pepper sauce first, to do this combine tomato sauce,paprika,1/4 cup red wine, grated ginger root , red pepper, cardamom , nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. Set red pepper sauce aside

Next, In a large skillet cook onion and garlic in hot oil until onion is tender but not brown. Stir in red pepper sauce, turmeric, and 1 tsp. of salt. Add chicken pieces to skillet. Spoon onion mixture over chicken pieces, bring mixture to boiling; reduce heat . cover; simmer about 30 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup dry red wine. Cook uncovered about 15 min.; turn chicken pieces often . skim off fat . Serve with Ethiopian flat bread.

For many people, having art in the home is simply having a reprint of a painting by Van Gough or DaVinci and calling it a day, but the rich history of indigenous American art can add culture in the home.  Neo-mannerist art that depicts urban environments is often overlooked but it’s African American décor that can make a home that much better.

While there’s something to be said about the great artists of our time, finding American artists, particularly underrepresented styles can bring out a much richer sense of self and create a less cookie-cutter aesthetic.

Usman Sagara. This smiling gentleman works doing specialized traditional African carvings. He makes the Dogon seated couples for us, one of which he’s holding in this picture. His family origins are of the Duru ethnic group, a group in the Dogon region of Mali, West Africa. He is a very conscientious worker, always faithfully striving for high quality. Usman is a very serious family man, and has been working on traditional carvings ever since childhood.

Wednesday’s Recipe

African Squash and Yams (Futari)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 small onion; chopped, pared and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 pound hubbard squash; pared and cut into 1-inch pieces
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 medium-sized yams or sweet potatoes
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Cook and stir onion in oil in 10-inch skillet over medium heat until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling.

Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about five minutes longer.

This man, Kabine Coude, is a fun loving individual who takes great pride in his work. He also likes to joke around with those in the shop were he works. He lives in Bamako, the capital city of Mali, West Africa.  He works in an ebony shop; known all over the surrounding African continent for it is high quality ebony pieces.  He’s been working with ebony ever since he was a child, and loves the work he does to create African Art Decor. His family background is in Burkina Faso, where he is a part of the Mossi tribe, known by the Malians as having a reputation for their honesty, even in hard times. He is also married with a family.

Friday’s African Proverb

“Loving someone that does not love you is like loving the rain that falls in the forest”.
 (Western African proverb)

Sade Toure is a bronze caster in the Ivory Coast, in a village called Nangalako.  His family has lived there for as long as he can remember, and all of them have been bronze casters, and other African Art. They pass down the tradition from generation to generation. Sade is a real artist, with a passion for creative designs in bronze work.  Using the traditional lost-wax method, he is finding it harder and harder to find buyers for his traditional work. His traditional work is time consuming and most buyers simply want the lowest price they can get.  We were happy to find one of the remaining lost-wax artists and love the opportunity to display the traditional, premium quality, bronze work that he creates.  He is a family man, married with two children, a boy and a girl. Sade also works doing some farming in his nearby garden.

Wednesday’s Recipe

Hummus

 INGREDIENTS:

• Tin of chick peas (drained)
• 4 table spoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon grounded coriander
• 1 teaspoon grounded cumin
• juice of 1 lemon
• salt and pepper to taste

Put everything in a blender and blend until almost smooth. Taste great on toasted bread, bagels, and crackers or in sandwiches.

Ebony wood is an exceptionally hard and beautiful wood found only in the Sahara desert regions of Africa. Its exceptional density not only makes it very heavy, but also gives it an incomparable sheen when polished. Because of the high value and heaviness of this wood, only the master carvers of Africa are able to use it for their craft. They use simple hand tools to produce the works of art sold at NewAfricanAmericanStore.com. In ancient days, the royalty of Persia and India would travel to West Africa to find ebony to use for scepters, sculptures and drinking chalices. Even now ebony is considered the most valued and treasured wood to be found. Ebony normally is brown on the outside of the tree; and black on the inside. The carvings often come as a beautiful mixture of black and brown; as well as the pure blackwood that is most well known. Each has its own special beauty. Like any wood, ebony is subject to drying and cracking: especially in dry climates. Your wood pieces should be cared for with occasional polishing with shoe polish or other moisturizing agents.  Click here to find other Black Art and African Décor.

A male with a weapon or animal (commonly a horse) is produced to show honor to departed ancestors. Animals are rarely sculpted for the purpose of showing the inward or outward beauty of the animal, but to give status to the person. Even today, many in Africa would consider the ownership of a horse to be of greater status than the ownership of an automobile. Showing a person with a horse would then be giving great honor to them. Sometimes people are shown with animals that are not really used; possibly even mythical. The purpose is to show the power given to one who rides such an animal, and the wealth that they must have. 

As women achieve significance through their children, men will often be honored in warfare. The one who goes to battle must have physical, emotional and spiritual energy to survive and to conquer. Thus we have the emphasis on weapons and the spoils of war in many African works.  See some African Figurines.

Wednesday’s African Recipe

Candied Yams from West Africa

 INGREDIENTS:

• 6 Med. Yams
• 1 Tsp. Nutmeg
• 1 Tsp. Cinnamon
• 1 Cup Water
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 8 Tbsp. Margarine
• 2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

Step #1 - Peel yams and slice lengthwise.

Step #2 - Place yams in a large pot , cover with water, and bring to a boil.

Step #3 - Drain half of the water and put yams and remaining water in a large pan or skillet.

Step #4 - Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg.

Step #5 - Bring to boil and cook approximately 3 minutes

Step #6 - Add the remainder of the nutmeg, cinnamon, sugar, and the vanilla extract.

Step #7 - Spoon mixture all over the yams and let simmer for 15 minutes until the yams have absorbed all the syrup.

Step #8 - Remove from heat until ready to serve.

Ali Guindo is one of the weavers who weave cotton to make into mudcloth clothing and accessories. He weaves the fabric, and then it is taken to a painter, such as Mme. Kono (below), who paints the designs onto the fabric. Ali Guindo is from the Dogon ethnic group and works in a little village called Somo, in the Dogon area of Mali, West Africa. Because he lives in such a remote area (where many foreign buyers don’t venture to go), finding him to make some of the mudcloth fabric was a great way for him to increase his business. It also insures that we get the highest quality of fabric. See some Mudcloth African Wall Décor.

Friday’s Proverb

“The wealth of the greedy
ultimately goes to the community”.

Americanized Version:
If there are two brothers in a home,
both must work to feed the family.”

Which is the very meaning of this Brass- Two Headed Crocodile

A popular symbol in Africa,
where other people groups use it to
symbolize the futility of greed

If you enjoy playing chess you will enjoy seeing this African chess set with  Massai Warriors.

The Massai warriors are one of the most prominent and respected ethnic groups in Kenya. Massai men, in order to become warriors, must go out alone into the bush and kill a male lion with their bare hands. The warriors are so greatly feared, it is told that lions and cheetahs will run away or stop their pursuits of game animals if a Massai warrior is anywhere close by. As soon as a Massai warrior is initiated their spear and shield are decorated with red paint, which is symbolic of their status in society. The Massai statues sold at Africa Imports are all hand-carved and hand-made by the Massai people of Kenya. When you own these you are owning a true piece of African culture, pride, and strength.

African Proverb:

“it is better to walk than curse the road”  - Wolof proverb, Senegal