Feeling Special for a Week

Today is a week since Valentine's Day. I had asked my customers to follow my recipe for an African themed Valentine's Date. I suggested they:

*Check out some African art at Kafele's;

*Share an intimate meal for 2;

*Watch a romantic African Film or play some romantic tunes. I had recommended
"Say Good-bye" by Howard Hewett. "What, who"? I hear you ask. It's ok, it's a beautiful ballad to wrap yourself in.

*And finally, I had asked for them to celebrate Valentine' Day for the whole week.
Don't you agree that one day is not enough to feel special?

Well, starting backwards. I certainly celebrated it for a week. Jed has been away this week in Belfast sharing his love with a group of young people. This is the longest period of time we have ever been apart. And, I have to say I missed him dearly. We phoned each other every day and expressed some of that love and miss you stuff (sloppy, I know). I also shared this love with my older daughter as she too was away from home.

I listened to Howard Hewitt - on my own (as Jed had gone by then). But ooh! did it sound sweet.

We ate an African/Caribbean meal for 3 at home (with our younger daughter).

We gave a piece of African art (Songye Mask) to a business associate. Simply because he is extremely helpful and such a nice guy.

Remember this is an African Art Retreat and we can do more or less what we like here.

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Week.

Spirit Spouses of the Otherworld

One of my favourite pieces of art is a "pair" of Baule figures. They are not really a pair even though one is male and the other is female. They are very beautifully carved and the meaning behind them I believe is kinda spooky but exciting.

The Baule are from Cote d' Ivoire and believe that the Otherworld (Blolo) exists parallel to our world and that the two are a reflection of one another. Blolo is the place where we were before we were born and where we return to after death. Therefore, every living person has an Otherworld family.

This I believe. To me it explains some of the feelings I get.

The most important to the Baule of all the Otherworld inhabitants are their spouses, the blolo bian (men) and the blolo bla (women). This is because of the power that these figures can exert in our world. The Baule believe that power and influence can be exerted from either world.

This I believe. Our spouses can take up a lot of our thinking time especially when there are disagreements. Did you ever stop to think, that there could be someone out there stirring things for you?

A Baule figure is usually commissioned when a person in this world is faced with a problem, often related to relationship issues (e.g. sexual problems with their partner or maybe problems with conceiving).

I have just had a thought! Maybe I could commission a diviner to replace Jed with Denzel! Now that is a thought!

A diviner is then consulted to determine whether the cause of the problem is related to one’s spiritual spouse. In response, the diviner may recommend that a figure representing the Otherworld spouse should be carved. The figure’s appearance is based upon images from the Otherworld that the person in this world experiences in dreams. The figure is then placed in the home after a ceremony has been performed.

This is the bit where I start saying this man is having an affair! (I use man but you can use what you like) I have always said if he is thinking about another woman he is being unfaithful. If he is dreaming about another woman he is being unfaithful!

The figure is then cleaned regularly and receives regular offerings. In addition, the person must also make skin contact with the figure as part of the cleaning ceremony to ensure a close bond is formed between the person in this world and the otherworld spouse. Through this relationship the problems are hopefully resolved as the otherworld spouse will be appeased and any future problems prevented.

That is it! What more proof do you need this calls for a divorce (in my case). I am definetly going to replace him with Denzel!

To the Baule people these figures are not pieces of art but an integral part of their belief system.

I know I have given a light- hearted take on this and I sincerely do not mean any disrespect. But, I do love this meaning. Do you see what I mean by spooky but exciting? I truly love and treasure these figures, they are simply gorgeous. Whilst I am thinking about it, I have to thank Jed. He fell in love with them first (aesthetically, that is), I fell in love with the meaning.

I would love to hear what you think about this article? Do you believe there is an Otherworld that exists parallel to this world?


[References: Vogel, Susan Miller 1997 African Art/Western Eyes. New Haven, Yale University press. Davis, Seth, Davidson College - Fall 2001]

African art stirs my soul

So many people have said to me that my eyes light up when I talk about African art. I am beginning to believe this now, as I feel lit up inside when I do speak about it. I am not sure why? Maybe it stimulates and excites me in a way that other mundane things doesn’t. In fact, that’s what it does. It makes me happy. There is no politics in African art, (ok, there is politics in just about everything) but you know what I mean. When I have a conversation with others and their faces appear blank as I go ranting on, it doesn’t matter this is something that I love and it gives me pleasure (selfish of me, I know). What I try to do. No! what I intend to do. No! that’s not right either. What I do when I have a discussion with others about African art is to communicate my passion and fascination with the subject. This is not shallow superficial talk but genuine talk this is who I am talk.

Now, that I have got that out of the way. I wanted to tell you why I have decided to do a BLOG. By the way, Jed doesn’t know what a BLOG is and I can have a little chuckle to myself about that. He is the one that’s supposedly up on technology not me. Anyway, why did I decide to do a blog. Well a couple of people that I know have suggested this to me. I was told it would be one way for me to talk about African art in a chatty informal and heartfelt way.

To be truthful, I avoided doing one at first because I thought this is going to be hard work and what do I have to say that would be of interest to anyone. I am not an expert. I don’t know the arts inside out. To be honest, I read so much about the different pieces, the country of origin and the usages that I get confused on occasions. But hey! When I get it wrong I feel no way about admitting it. It doesn’t matter, as I am not trying to impress anyone.

African art as therapy
A friend of ours came to visit us and his parting remarks were “…your home is very peaceful, you have a wonderful family, you are very lucky.”

And, you know something, I am not one for accepting compliments very well ( I am learning) but you know, what he said is true. I am lucky. The African arts in our home create a real sense of peace. I am convinced that the peace and tranquillity that wraps itself up like an old familiar cuddly blanket around our home emanates from these beautiful pieces of art. Good family and friends enhance this sense of tranquillity and harmony.

Through these pages, I would like to somehow share that sense of peace and tranquility with you. I want to create an African retreat that you can escape to, relax and feel at peace.

My advice to anyone who is feeling stressed or unhappy is to find something or someone preferably a combination of the two to bring you that sense of peace. Try a piece of art. Learn about its origin and significance. I promise you, it will amaze you and learning something new and different is very fulfilling, amazingly empowering and more importantly, very rewarding.