African Art

Massai shields are used not only as weapons in the Massai culture of Kenya. They also express the African Wall Art and culture of the Massai people in Kenya.

Each shield is crafted from buffalo hide sewn onto a wooden frame. The handle is attached at the center back of the shield and wrapped with leather strips. Among the Massai, red paint was traditionally obtained by mixing earth with blood or the red sap of the solanum campylae fruit. White was derived from local clays, and black from the skins of burnt gourds. Younger warriors were only allowed the use of black, white, or gray on their shields, while red shields were for the senior warriors.

A Massai warrior is rarely seen without a spear and shield. Spears are a warrior’s most precious possession and are used for defending herds and the community against predators. Spears are used as walking sticks and staffs, most commonly seen thrust in the ground by the warrior’s side. The metal is kept rust-free by polishing it with animal fat. Wood separates the leaf-shaped blade from the sharpened end. Dark ebony wood is used only among senior warriors, where lighter wood indicates a junior.

In Massai culture, a boy grows into a junior and then senior warrior (mid teens-mid thirties). When a new age set matures to replace them, senior warriors become junior elders, and finally senior elders, or ancients. Warriors are protectors of the tribe. They are the first line of defense against animals such as lions, and outsiders. They are also expected to perform the hard work around the encampment.

Shields remain one of the Maasai warrior’s most important tools. They were used in warfare and hunting as well as practice and training. Outside of the warring context, however, shields were used in rites of passage and also functioned as prestige objects and symbols of identification. Early studies revealed that spear markings and shield designs were once used to tell between some of the Massai subgroups and also hinted at a larger, complex lineage identification system. Shield designs are known as sirata. Different designs and colors represent different things; a red badge signifies great bravery in battle and is only painted with the permission of a high-ranking chief. The intricacy of design and high craftsmanship of Maasai shields extend beyond utilitarianism and convey the sense of honor and status with which their warrior owners were invested.

Friday’s Proverb

At five, my daughter is already struggling with a racial identity and dismisses the Barbies and other Caucasian toys she finds at toy stores.  This is particularly true, however, at our church when the images she sees of angels and Jesus are, again, mainly white.  Not wanting her to feel like there is no ethnic imagery out there, I found some black angel figurines for her to have in her bedroom.

While this doesn’t solve the overall issue that kids of an interracial background are pulled in different directions, it does comfort my child to know that not everything out there has to be white.

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.

Mme Kounte is one of our mudcloth painters. She has been painting for a long time, and is quite skilled in making the designs. She’s actually from the Bozo ethnic group, which is mainly comprised of fishermen from along the Niger River.  However, her husband, (also from the Bozo ethnic group) became a tailor and she went into mudcloth painting. She has five children, one of whom is shown here with her.  She likes to work on the mudcloth that she makes for us, and if you ever purchase a piece of mudcloth, know that Mme Kounte was probably one of the painters who painted on some of the creative designs in your piece of African paintings called mudcloth.

Friday’s Proverb

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.

The pure, luminescent mother of pearl has attracted attention for thousands of years. It is made out of the internal shells of mollusks, such as mussels and oysters. Mother of Pearl is commonly found in Egypt, Polynesia and the Philippines, where people from all over the world have traveled to bring it back to their own countries. Royalty from all over the world would use mother of pearl to build palaces and shrines. There are several different kinds of mother of pearl that are all used in the artwork at which you can find at NewAfricanAmericanStore.com along with other African American Home Décor.  There is white mother of pearl, which is from pearl-bearing oysters, and which has the highest reflective properties. Iridescent mother of pearl is a type in which the colors of pink and green are predominant. Stone mother of pearl is sturdier, and white with lower reflective properties. No matter which mother of pearl artifact you choose to own, you can be assured that it is something that will provide you years of enjoyment to come!  Check out the Mother of Pearl Chess set seen below this chess set is made of Mother of Pearl chess pieces.

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.