Benin Kingdom

Framed by sea shells and wood. Bring the energy of the beach into your home. Coming to the realization that musicians create music with their hearts, and from their hearts creations travel to their brain, and from there, if we're lucky enough, ultimately we get to hear a creation. However, in reality we really only get to hear the creation because of their hands! Djembe queen shows the rhythm and intensity of the hand drummer! Ideal for decorating your living room, or office.

• It portrays Igbo women for their universal beauty and distinctive cultural character.
• Colorful textured painting would be a great addition to your painting collection or good gift.
• The texture and the strokes can be seen in the close-up photos.

Traditional wrestling, also known as “Laamb” in Wolof, is a centuries-old sport in Sénégal. In terms of form, it is very similar to the Greco-Roman style of wrestling; however, it is very typical of traditional, African wrestling. There are two forms of Laamb: the first allows the wrestlers to strike each other with their bare hands, which can be painful; the second is more acrobatic, and hitting is not permitted. When a wrestler’s back touches the ground, the bout is over; he has lost. Laamb is as much a spiritual activity as it is physical; and wrestlers engage in various rites and rituals preparatory to fighting. No wrestler, regardless of his strength, physical, or technical abilities, will ever dare to enter the ring, much less fight, without his “marabout” or without participating in his own pre-match ceremony. During the ceremony, the wrestler, accompanied by drummers and singers, dances around the arena; around his arms, legs, and waist are various kinds of esoteric pendants or amulets the purpose of which is to protect him against evil spirits and the witchcraft of other fighters. It is this aspect of the sport which elevates a wrestling match beyond the level of ordinary spectator sport. Many people attend as much for the enjoyment of the ceremony as for the sport.

Bring nature into your home with this beautiful woven vase. Handwoven in Northern Nigeria with dried grasses. This hourglass-shaped vase is completely unique, not mass produced and is a fine example of rural West African basketry. Designed with versatility in mind, it's also a great fit for utensils in the kitchen or for stationery in the office! Entirely handmade and skillfully shaped without a frame, each vase. Handmade