Craftsmen, Artists, Writers
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Elcarver Rotimi
is a Nigerian painter. His medium is acrylic on paper and batik or pen and ink on paper or canvas.
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Fokam Goufo Buhler calls himself a basket maker,
even though his creations go beyond tradition.
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Africa Traditions Home Page
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People of Africa have a powerful identity. While some renounce their traditions and become
"white" Africans, others continue to follow the traditions of their ancestors. Many combine the new with
the old, creating a vibrant culture.
The Cameroon Grassland is one of many places where
old meets new. The traditional healers work hand-in-hand
with medical doctors.
In the past, craftsmen would work for Fons and notables.
Today they have a wider audience and their work can be
seen all over the world. The indigo dyed cloth, seen behind the stool in the picture on the right, was once
reserved for the elite. The meaning of symbols that can be found on this cloth, as well
as of those found on masks and other items is being forgotten, though. There are, however, a few works that give us
a glimpse of the past.
Hans Knopfli,
who spent over thirty years in Cameroon, has written several excellent books that feature
the people and crafts of the Cameroon Grasslands.
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African masks, like the one on the right, bring into focus traditional beliefs.
Art does not exist for its own sake, but is an important part of daily life.
Certain aspects are reserved for special ceremonies, some have religious
connections, and others are for daily use.
One of the traditional crafts in Cameroon is tapestry crochet, which is done by both
men and women. You can read more about tapestry crochet
at http://www.tapestrycrochet.com/.
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