African Art

If you’re interested in filling your home or office with art, there are several factors that you should consider before purchasing. For one, always make sure that you stay within your budget. Art can be extremely pricy, and it’s easy to fall in love with a piece and throw your budget out the window. That’s why you should go into every art purchase with a firm upper limit. You should also ensure that all your art is created with first rate, high quality materials.

After all, if you’re going to make the investment into artistic pieces, you’ll want to ensure that you’ll have them for a good deal of time. That’s why artistic pieces from sculptures to animal figurines to watercolors should be done with care and attention to detail. To that end, look for materials such as bronze or other sturdy metals. These won’t deteriorate or lessen in visual appeal over the years.

Papyrus Artwork

Papyrus was the first writing surface ever invented. Discovered in Egypt, this revolutionary product dominated many forms of African Wall Art and literature until pulp paper was discovered. Papyrus is made from a reed-like plant that grows in the marshes of the river Nile. This plant grows about 10 feet tall. The plant is harvested, and the hard outer fibers are peeled away, and the core is sliced into strips. The strips are then soaked in water, which removes most of the sugar content. After soaking, the strips are pounded and the water drained. The strips are then placed side by side, overlapping slightly. A second set of strips is then placed at right angles to the first, again overlapping slightly. This process is repeated over and over again until a piece of paper or artwork is formed. Afterwards, the surface is polished to a smooth finish by rubbing with a stone or black wood. All of the papyrus artwork we carry is made using this process, which adds value and ingenuity to each piece.

Wednesday’s Recipe

How to Cook Red-Red Stew from Ghana, Africa

Red-Red is a popular dish from Ghana made from cowpeas (black-eyed peas). It is thought to have been named for the combination of red pepper and red palm oil that is used in the cooking process. The Red-Red cowpeas stew is usually served with fried plantains, and is a lunch favorite in Ghana, particularly among office workers. If you are “unbeanz,” (i.e. unemployed) you can survive on this meal easily because the ingredients are inexpensive This is most commonly served with fried ripe plantain (popularly known as “koko”). It is an ideal choice for vegetarians and vegans.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2-3 cups dried cowpeas (black eyed peas) or similar
• 1 cup red palm oil (or vegetable oil)
• 1-2 onions, thinly sliced
• 2-3 ripe tomatoes, quartered
• Cayenne pepper or red pepper
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Several ripe or near-ripe plantains
• 1-2 bouillon cubes
• 4 Cups Chopped Eggplant
• (Optional) Small piece of smoked or dried fish
• (Optional) One spoonful of shrimp powder

Step #1

Clean the black-eyed peas in water in a large pot. Soak them in water for at least an hour or overnight. After soaking them, rub them together between your hands to remove the skins. Rinse to wash away the skins and any other debris. Drain them in a colander If you are using smoked or dried fish: remove the bones and skin, rinse and soak them in water, then dry them. If you are using dried shrimp: grind the shrimp (or obtain already ground or powdered shrimp).

Step #2
Place the black-eyed peas in a large pot, fill the pot with enough water to just cover the peas. Bring to a slow boil; reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the peas are tender; thirty minutes to an hour. When cooked, the peas should be moist, but not standing in water.

Step #3
While the peas are cooking: Heat the oil in a skillet. Fry the onions until slightly browned, then add the tomatoes, and fish and dried shrimp (if desired). Mash and stir the mixture to form a sauce.

Step #4
Stir the onion-tomato mixture into the black-eyed peas. Add bouillon cubes (if you are not using fish or shrimp). Simmer for ten minutes. Add salt, black pepper, and cayenne or red pepper to taste.

Step #5
While peas and sauce is simmering: Prepare fried plantains.

Step #6
Serve peas and plantains side by side on a plate.

Step #1
Peel and thinly slice the plantains lengthwise.

Step #2
Fill a skillet with 1 inch of Canola or vegetable oil. Preheat the skillet until hot, but not smoking.

Step #3
Fry the plantains until they a nice golden brown color, and then flip to the other side. This should take about 2 or 3 minutes in total, but let your eyes be the judge.

Step #4
Remove the plantains from the skillet and place on paper towels to drain the excess oil, then season with salt and pepper. Makes about 6 to 8 servings.

How to Prepare Boiled Plantains:

Drop unpeeled plantains in boiling water. Cook for 15-20 minutes until a test plantain is tender when pierced with a fork. Peel before serving.

Note: Because of the amount of agricultural chemicals used in fruit cultivation, we suggest a good soap and hot-water scrub before boiling plantains. If you prefer, you may peel them before boiling

A History of the Cowpea:

The cowpea is indigenous to Africa and contributes immensely to the diets of the under-privileged. It used to be called the “poor man’s meat”. However, improvement in the storage and processing techniques of cowpeas has changed this perception. Cowpeas are now accepted, as food in the homes of the rich, the informed, the salaried worker and all those who can afford it. The cowpea is rich in protein and B-vitamins.

African Oil Painting. Village by the sea. 

  Mark Sagnon has created each of the original oil paintings sold at Africa Imports. His love of art is so vivid in his paintings that the ones now sold are some of the best-selling paintings to carry. Mr. Sagnon grew up believing he was blind, and being treated like a blind man, until one day a friendly person gave him a pair of glasses. All the sudden the world became a new universe of color, artwork, and life for him! Mr. Sagnon’s paintings continually encourage the viewer to participate in an adventure that will give them a taste of the African culture, lifestyles, and people. His love of Africa is very evident in his paintings, and gives us something we can treasure for years to come. Mr. Sagnon has developed a layering and bonding technique to work from within the surface of a painting in order to create greater depth and color. The oil paintings sparkle with vibrancy and bright, African colors! This is a perfect gift for you to own, or to give. 

Here is a beautiful African American Art Paintings of Musical Cherubs.  This is a framed print with delicate colors and detailed artistry brings this musical cherubs painting to life. The cherubs are playing a violin and a trumpet amidst roses and ribbons  

Friday’s Proverbs

When a man thinks he is too big or great to fall, it only takes a little thing to bring him down.

Within Africa, there is an indigenous ethnic group known as the Maasai. They are mainly located in Kenya and Northern Tanzania, although they are semi-nomadic people. Their language is known as Maa, and their very distinctive form of dress makes them one of the better known groups within Africa. The group has been receiving continued and increasing pressure from the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments to abandon their nomadic ways, but the group has held onto these customs.

The group has found themselves in the middle of a modern world controversy when it was claimed that their continued nomadic ways are a direct result of global climate change. Since they depend on their ability to farm in both scrublands and deserts, claims are that the group has to continue moving to find suitable farmland. They have also made their way into the modern consciousness by being the focus of many African American figurines. Readily available for purchase, these are a way to honor the group of people and beautifully ornament the interior of your home.

Mudcloth is a traditional African fabric. It is so treasured in other parts of the world that it is also one of the major exports of Mali, West Africa. It is famous for its distinctive look and also for the rich symbolism behind each piece. Each piece of mudcloth tells a story; each symbol and each color has a specific meaning. Mudcloth makes a beautiful display of African Wall Art.

Pieces of mudcloth are passed down from mother to daughter, and are used to celebrate important life events like births, marriages, and deaths. Warriors sometimes wear red mudcloth in battle decorated with leather symbols. Mudcloth is also used as camouflage in hunting.

What the Colors Represent:

Rust - Represents the strong supernatural powers that protect the hunter. It also signifies blood from either the hunt or from warfare and is a useful form of camouflage.

White - Worn by women during ceremonies.

The most typical color of mudcloth is black with a white background. This is the kind of mudcloth most commonly used in storytelling.

What makes the different colors?

Tree bark makes the light brown color, while mud makes the dark brown/black color. White is the absence of mud, and is made by applying a special soap and a touch of bleach (which speeds up the process). Then the fixer, from a tree bark, creates the yellowish color.

Wednesday’s Recipe

Crunchy Cabbage Salad from West Africa

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups finely shredded cabbage
• 1 cup diced apples
• 1 cup diced cucumbers
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 tablespoon vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1/3 cup chopped unsalted peanuts

In a medium sized bowl mix cabbage, apples, cucumbers and raisins. Toss to combine. In a small bowl blend together mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, vinegar and sugar. Pour this blend over cabbage mixture. Toss well to coat. Sprinkle with peanuts and chill.

This rare wood comes from the root of the Thuya tree; found primarily in the town of Essaouria, in Morocco. Due to the limited supply of Thuya wood, the products made out of this wood are limited and will never be made in large quantities. This wood is so valuable that it is only given to the most skilled artisans. Each piece is hand-crafted and hand-rubbed for hours.  Lemon juice and vegetable oils are worked into the wood to bring out a gorgeous luster, revealing Thuya’s natural burled grain. Its beauty will complement any African Decor or atmosphere.

Skilled artisans have used other types of wood for their carvings.  Ebony makes a beautiful figurine like the “Ebony Women Kneeling in Prayer”.

Friday’s Proverb

When a man thinks he is too big or great to fall, it only takes a little thing to bring him down.

Celebrate the circle of life!

Carved out of only one piece of wood, each of the hand-carved unities makes excellent African Home Decor and conversation pieces. The wood for the unity is taken from the roots of different baobab and Blackwood trees throughout Africa. Only the most skilled artisans can create unity carvings, since they have to make it entirely out of one piece of wood. They must do this without breaking the wood or cracking it. The unities are treasured throughout Africa as a symbol of the African struggle for freedom, and as a symbol of family and the unity of the people. Each unity teaches simple lessons of love, life, and harmony. Bring this unforgettable work of art into your home and life today! Each unity is made in Ghana and shows the unity of people within a community.

Wednesday’s Recipe

 Crunchy Cabbage Salad from West Africa

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups finely shredded cabbage
• 1 cup diced apples
• 1 cup diced cucumbers
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 tablespoon vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1/3 cup chopped unsalted peanuts

In a medium sized bowl mix cabbage, apples, cucumbers and raisins. Toss to combine. In a small bowl blend together mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, vinegar and sugar. Pour this blend over cabbage mixture. Toss well to coat. Sprinkle with peanuts and chill.