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Shrine Figure. Fante. Ghana.
Ghana is a fascinating country,
with a long history of both great
wealth and colonial exploitation.
Statistics on Ghana as a whole
are a bit misleading. They rank
quite high among African countries
in access to safe water and
literacy, but most all of the
wealth and human services are
concentrated near the coast.
Inland regions to the north
have severe needs on a par
with the most desparate areas
on the subcontinent, with
starvation, drought, and disease
a daily reality. Perhaps Ghana's
great wealth will someday benefit
the entire country. Shrines are
found all over Ghana, and serve
a variety of needs. Diverse faiths
co-exist peacefully. The history
of the Fante is tied to that of
the Akan Kingdom, which rose to
power during the 13thC. Over the
centuries, a powerful faction of
the Akan, the Asante, emerged as
a result of their control over
trade routes for gold merchants.
The Asante were brutal and, as a
result, groups of Akan began to
splinter off, moving towards the
coast. The Fante were one of these
groups. Even today, the Fante are
at the mercy of the Asante, who
control much of Ghana's government.
The Fante are best known for their
colorful paramilitary applique'
flags known as "Asafo." See my
"Homage to Fante Asafo."
"The artist must train not only his
eye but also his soul." Wassily Kaninsky,
1866-1944.
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Leopard Mask. Shilluk. Sudan.
Sudan is an ancient land,
with the Blue and White
Nile both flowing within
its borders. The country
has effectively been split
in half culturally, the
north being mostly Muslim,
the south mostly animist.
Recent decades have not
been kind to the Sudanese,
as inhabitants of the south
have been brutally exploited
by their aggressive Arab
neighbors. Since 1983, nearly
2 million people have died.
The horrors in the Sudan are
back in the news, in what
amounts to a Rwanda-style
genocide. The United States is
years late in their involvement.
At least 1,000,000 more people
will probably die, no matter
what we do. May the gods save
the world from the Bush
administration! The Shilluk are
an ancient and fairly large
Nilotic culture. They have
suffered the ravages of their
Arab oppressors, but have never
yielded. The mask above, as bizarre
as you will find, is made from a
gourd(calabash) and covered with
mud. Sudanese art is rare, but
pieces that do exist are haunting
and mysterious.
"Whenever I hear arguing for
slavery, I feel a strong impulse
to see it tried on him personally."
Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865.
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Housepost. Fang. Gabon.
One of West Africa's more stable
countries, Gabon boasts the
highest income per capita in the
region, thanks mostly to its
abundant oil reserves, which
account for 80% of Gabon's exports.
Gabon is made up of more than 40
ethnic groups, which live together
in relative harmony. Gabon's heavy
dependence on oil makes their
economy somewhat unpredictable.
When oil prices began to fall in
the late 1980's, opposition to
President Bongo increased,
culminating in demonstrations
which ultimately led to the
adoption of a new constitution
and a multi-party system in
1991. The Fang are perhaps the
dominant culture in Gabon.
Their art is famous the world
over. Fang art revolves around
the veneration of ancestors.
"Art is the most intense mode
of individualism that the world
has known." Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900.
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Vodun "bochio." Fon. Republic
of Benin.
Benin achieved independence
from France in 1960, and has
emerged as a beacon of democracy,
to become one of the most
stable countries in Africa.
Stability does not mean wealth,
and while Benin has seen economic
growth over the past few years,
it remains among the world's
poorest nations. Perhaps their
peaceful society can be traced
to animist beliefs that run in
and through almost all of Benin
culture. It is known as "vodun,"
and can be "defined" as a vehicle
for peace with the gods, the
bush, and their human neighbors.
It is a way to accept gracefully
what life dishes out to you.
Perhaps the "bochio" above
could best be called a "prayer."
Vodun remains a force for good
and a path to inner peace for
many West African societies.
See my "Homage to Vodun" page
for more fascinating pieces.
"Everyone wants to understand
painting. Why is there no
attempt to understand the
song of birds?" Pablo Picasso,
1881-1973.
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Dogon Mask. Bandiagara Cliffs. Mali
The Dogon number around 100,000
and occupy a secluded and hostile
region of southeastern Mali, known
as the Bandiagara Cliffs. They fled
northern Burkina Faso around 1500AD
to escape domination by the Mossi.
Although they settled in an area
that is dry, hilly and nearly barren,
they developed one of the most
vibrant and fascinating cultures
known to man. When ethnologists
think of an untouched African culture,
the Dogon usually come to mind. The
complexity of Dogon ritual society
is astounding, and has obsessed, and
confounded, many a scholar. Though
they live in an area almost impossible
to reach, they are an extremely kind
and approachable people, and have
warmly embraced lucky vistors. Dogon
dwellings are an artform all to
themselves, moving some onlookers
to describe Dogon villages as
"magic kingdoms." Dogon masked
dances, which have highlighted
documentaries, like PBS' "Africa"
series, are dynamic and colorful
examples of the exhilaration
inherent to indigenous cultures,
and a powerful reason to make sure
they survive.
"Art completes what nature cannot
bring to finish." Aristotle, 384-322BC.
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Mask. Lwena. Angola.
I call this mask my "Alien Angel."
Up until the last few years,
Angola was without doubt one
of the most dangerous places
on earth, with civil wars raging
all across the country. In 1992,
Angola underwent a transition
from a one-party socialist state
to a nominally multi-party democracy.
Current problems are the repatriation
of thousands of refugees, a breakdown
of medical services, and the huge
number of land mines which await
safe disposal. My little mask, with
its simple beauty, was carved
amidst this chaos, and implies
optimism and hope....The Lwena ,
who number approximately 400,000,
live primarily in Angola, but a
portion live in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and Zambia.
They are related to the Chockwe,
whose artforms and rituals they
imitate. The Lwena and the Chockwe
both use masks to honor female
ancestors. The Lwena mainly fish
for a living, as they live near
the source of the Zambezi River
in southwest Angola.
"The longer you look at an object,
the more abstract it becomes and,
ironically, the more real." Lucian
Freud, 1922-
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Lega Mask. Democratic Republic of
the Congo.
The Lega and their sub-tribes
are quite famous for their masks
and figures. They have a charm and
naive appearance, and are loved by
by collectors worldwide. Some of
the masks, made for Bwami Society
initiation rituals, are worn on the
face, some on the arm, some carried
in baskets, and some are even hung
outside on fenceposts. The Lega live
just west of the Great Lakes region,
in the equatorial forests of Elila
and Ulindi, not far from Lake Kivu.
They are just south of the main
conflict zones of the current civil
wars, and in peril of either being
dragged into the fray or having to
flee across the Congo River. The
wondrous art producing cultures of
these magical forests can only hope
that substantial assistance arrives
before they vanish, for as humans,
we will all be diminished if they do.
"An artist cannot fail; it is a
success to be one." Charles Horton
Cooley, 1864-1929.
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Montol Statue. Nigeria.
Population-wise, Nigeria is
the ninth largest country in
the world. There are over 130
million people, close to 500
living languages, and cultures
that can be traced back almost
2000 years. The complexity of
Nigerian culture rivals that of
any country in the world. The
country has abundant natural
resources, and is one of the
world's leading exporters of
crude oil. Though money from
these exports continues to pour
in, Nigeria has not used much of
it for its own people, choosing
instead to let most of the profits
line the pockets of corrupt leaders,
as well as European and American
entrepeneurs, primarily from Shell
Oil. The transition from a mostly
military government to a civilian
one in 1999 holds some hope for
Nigeria's future.
"A great artist...must be shaken
by the naked truths that will not
be comforted. This divine discontent,
this disequilibrium, this state of
inner tension is the source of
artistic energy." Goethe, 1749-1832.
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Toma "Landai" Mask. Guinea.
Although Guinea's mineral
wealth could make it one of
Africa's richest countries,
its people are among the
poorest in West Africa.
Guinea has been relatively
stable, but the situation has
deteriorated significantly
over the last 7 or 8 years,
due to the civil wars in Sierra
Leone and Liberia. As of 2000,
Guinea had been flooded with up
to 500,000 refugees. This has
strained relations with their
neighbors, and put enormous
demandson the country's already
scarce resources.
"The purpose of art is to lay
bare the questions which have
been hidden by the answers."
James Baldwin, 1924-1987.
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Mask. Bidjogo. Bissagos Islands
What a cool mask! I got this piece
from Elizabeth Bennett at Africa
Direct. It looks like Ren's("Ren
and Stimpy") "sad face" from the
side! Bissagos/Guinea-Bissau has
a population of just over one
million, and in addition to its
land mass, it also has an abundance
of islands just off the coast,
including the Bijagos Archipeligo,
where this charming and curious
mask originated.
"Art is what you can get away
with." Andy Warhol, 1928-1987.
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