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Touch of Roots

the legend of makonde's origin

Paper, ink, 1996, 20 х 30 cm

Tanzanian tribe Makonde is known all over the world due to outstanding art of ebony wood Mbuti carving. In the tribe there is matriarchal organization, and that is why: the first man, fallen from the sky, was not able to make anything, did not know, what is possible to eat. So he would die of hunger and thirst if not met the first woman - Great mother who gave him food and drink and advised to do woodcarving. Since then, all women in the tribe since a birth are caled mothers, even those to whom the destiny has not given happiness of motherhood. Women take deeds and decisions, but they also make basic work. Men carve ebony and help on a homework a little.

Figures in a picture are stylized according to Makonde statuettes, the big head means wisdom, big hands symbolize force, big lips with corners downwards - thirst and a distress, big eyes and smiling lips - kindness. The vessels represented in the center - stylization of Tanzanian ceramics which usually is covered with the drawings scratched on raw clay. Drawings are always symbolical, sometimes they are of certain author, sometimes traditional, in some cases are related to purpose of dish, and in the some cases, to event for which it is produced.

Kaleb

 

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