The Spiritual History of the African Mask
The creation and history of the African Mask is one steeped in meaning and tradition. The art of carving the African mask was often taught to young men who were apprenticed to master carvers. In other cases, the art of making masks and sculptures to be used in spiritual ceremonies was passed down in families from one generation to the next.
Rich with symbolic meaning, the African mask was treasured for its spiritual quality, as opposed to its aesthetic appearance. People living in different parts of African would produce art unique to their own culture. Here are some fascinating examples:
The Goma Mask
The Goma African mask was produced by people living near Lake Tanganyika, which is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This style of mask is elongated, with a dome at the top of the face. This style of mask also features a pattern of shapes carved into the forehead and face.
The Punu Mask
This style of African mask captures what is considered a beautiful female face by Gabon’s Punu tribe. This style features hair pulled up high on top of the head, with eyes carved in a shape that reminds one of an Asian woman. A Punu mask is sometimes painted white to represent the spirits of long-dead ancestors.
The Ligbi Mask
This celebratory African mask comes from the Ivory Coast. It features an elongated shape with wings on the side. The mouth is carved in the shape of a rectangle. Ligbi masks are used as part of Islamic holiday celebrations.
The Baule Mask
The Baule people carve African masks to be worn while dancing during harvest festivals. The mask’s round shape is a reminder of the Sun, the source of all life. These people respect the tremendous power possessed by the water buffalo which is represented by the horns carved into the top of the mask.
The remarkable thing about the African mask is that each culture has created a unique version to represent the spirit of its tribe. Today westerners appreciate the African Mask for its history, artistry, and ability to represent the owners unique taste and appreciate of diverse cultures.
General Tips | Comment (0)Creation and Communication in a Djembe Drum
The African Djembe drum is a traditional instrument that is used for communication, healing, and the spiritual joy inspired by movement. A Djembe drum is an African percussion instrument which the player holds between their legs. A strap attached to the drum is placed around the musician’s neck to stabilize the instrument while being played. Some players choose to sit with the drum tilted slightly forward.
Today’s Djembe drum is fashioned out of wood from the Djem tree. The wood is carved into an hourglass shape in one piece using a method that has been carefully handed down through the generations. The method of creation is important since the artists believe that drums made from several pieces don’t have the soul of the tree in them. The soulful aspect of this instrument is essential to the musicians who use it. To complete the aesthetic and acoustic properties of the djembe drum goat, antelope, zebra, or calf skin is stretched over the top of the drum; this is referred to as “be” skin. The name “Djembe” is taken from the combination of the two words.
The drum is played with bare hands; part of the experience of playing a djembe drum is in the tactile nature of the experience. The thickness of the wood and the quality of the skin chosen to fashion it both affect the tone of the instrument when completed, and the feel experience by the musician.
The Djembe Drum as a Means of Communication
The Djembe drum was originally used as a way to send signals to other tribes since its sound could carry over great distances. In some cases, several drummers, working in a type of sound relay, would send important messages throughout the continent using this method.
A Healing Drum
The Djembe drum has been used as part of healing ceremonies for centuries. The sound of the Djembe drum is soothing to the spirit, and it is also known to inspire dance and movement. Modern people are rediscovering how comforting the rhythm of a Djembe drum can be; this instrument is being used at corporate team-building functions to bring harmony to the group. Playing the drum is also a great way to relieve stress - it can be argued that people have plenty of that these days. The combined beauty, intrinsic soulful feeling, and heart-pounding rhythm this djembe drum represents explains its continued popularity throughout the ages.
General Tips | Comment (0)Basic Ideas of Home Interior Decoration
Decorating your home to make it look great, match your style, your choice and overall architecture of the home is Home Interior Decoration. The basic objective of home interior decoration is to have your home done in a way so as to reflect the best of your taste and personality along with giving it a unique dimension. A properly decorated home gives it a personalized “feel”.
Home interior decoration and interior design are distinctively different. The former focuses on finishing decoration using wallpapers, furnishing, paint, fixtures etc. Interior design, on the other hand, is more related to architecture integration involving spacing for cabinets, lofts, room layouts and other design parameters etc, in addition to home decoration activities.
Looking back at history, it can be seen that the concept of home interior decoration evolved in Paris and London in the late 18th century. The concept has refined over time and it has always been the quest of the industry to find most innovative and attractive home decoration solutions at most reasonable costs.
Professional Interior Designers/Decorators specialize in home interior decoration. Few Architects also practice this. Studies show that nearly 65% of home improvement cost is attributable to home interior decoration. Spending is fast expanding in new areas like modular kitchens, bath accessories and individual designer rooms and spaces for different purposes and for different members of the family.
Massage suites, spa areas, media space, craft rooms, wine cellars and home library areas are gaining popularity. Moving away from the earlier themes of luxury rooms, people are now shifting preferences for creating definition areas.
Earthly, natural and warm brown tones of colors are beginning to get preference over the vibrant and loud colors of the past. Blue and gray hues are more sought after today than the dull reds and dark blues of the past.
New highly placed career professionals and newly married couples are going for innovative home interior decoration ideas which not only cost less but also give the impression of an ornate design scheme to spruce up their homes.
Life-styling has come of age. It has given home interior decoration industry a tremendous boost. Eclectic decoration styles are on the rise. The High Tech and Shabby Chic is steadily replacing the good old Victorian or the Early American!
Uniqueness, good looks, functionality, harmony…are the new buzzwords in the home decoration industry. Trends are rapidly evolving as man continues their unending quest to present a more personalized statement of his lifestyle. The industry is highly dynamic, constantly fine tuning and positioning it with the emerging requirements. The trend has a firm footing and is expected to stay. Tracking the changes and keeping abreast with the developments hold the key to success.
Decorating | Comment (0)Decorating with African Art Creates Soulful Environments
Decorating with African art brings a unique look to your home or office. A number of options are available and you can feature one interesting piece or showcase an entire room in this style.
Choosing a Single Piece When Decorating with African Art
When you are planning your room, you may want to start with a single piece of art. Decorating with African art doesn’t have to be elaborate. You can start with a colorful batik wall hanging in bright colors, a hand-painted Korhogo cloth, or a Gabon mask. If you prefer not to display the art on your walls, you still have a number of options for decorating with African art. Since the piece you choose can represent your unique inner spirit; the options are highly individual and virtually endless.
Small pieces can add interest to your decor as well. Good choices include a hand-carved kisii stone elephant, a decoupage vase, or a carved chess set featuring animal pieces. Ebony bowls are available at reasonable prices and a “talking drum” displayed in your room will be certain to get conversations going.
Kisii Stone Plate Centers a Room
Another striking choice when decorating with African art is a kisii stone plate. This material is also known as soapstone. A multicolored effect is created by applying natural dyes to the surface of the stone. The stone absorbs the colors, making a kisii stone plate a wonderful option for decorating with African art. The piece can be hung on a wall or displayed on a table or a shelf using a stand.
Supporting African Artists
Another great reason for decorating with African art is that by buying these pieces, you are supporting the talented artisans who created them. Artists put their heart and soul into the items they draw, paint, weave, or fashion; and we give them a wonderful acknowledgment for their efforts by buying these items. The artist also benefits from the financial support we provide to them by buying their artwork.
Any decorative element you choose speaks loudly about your inner spirit, tastes, and style. Decorating with African Art gives you the chance to express your flair, passions, or social commentary without uttering a single word.
Decorating | Comment (0)Stumbles for March 1, 2008
Home Decorating Tips Using Mirrors | AfrikBoutik
General Tips | Comment (0)Mirrors can significantly enhance the beauty of any room by using their light reflection properties. They can add depth to any closed space like a small room and focus any beautiful object to create a unique aura.
