Dogon Dancers; Connecting the Sun and Earth

Dogon masks have become known as the most acclaimed masks amongst tribal art collections and have also influenced renowned Western 20th-century artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, as well as the Cubist movement. The masks are usually carved by those who will wear them in ritual performance. There are approximately seventy-eight standard types of…

Sélim Harbi – Behind the masks in West Africa

Documentary photographer and filmmaker Sélim Harbi, is passionate about the African continent, its history and cultures. He is the co-founder of Afreekyama; a pan-african photojournalism and multimedia storytelling collective. In 2014 he spent nine months working on his photo series: ‘Woongo, Behind the Masks.’ Woongo is the term used for “masks” in the Mooré language, spoken…

Eight interesting facts about the Yoruba people

The Yoruba are an ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria and southern Benin in West Africa who share a rich history and culture. Here are eight interesting facts about the traditional Yoruba culture: 1. According to Yoruba mythology, all Yoruba people are descendants from the hero Odua or Oduduwa. 2. The language of the Yorubas, known as Yoruba,…

Songye shields

The Songye people are a Bantu ethnic group from the central Democratic Republic of the Congo. Migrating from the Sheba area to the southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the banks of the Lualaba River,  the Songye settled in the savannah and forested plateau. The Songye follow a patriarchal society and are economically sustained by farming.  A central chief known as Yakitenge governs…

African interior design and home decor

African decorating ideas are taking over the interior design world. While each and every country in Africa has its unique style, interior design ideas usually incorporate neutral, earth tones combined with vibrant splashes of colour. African decor is inspired by nature, wild animals, colorful fabrics and wood carvings. Designers are inspired by African culture for…