My Portfolio
Dancing Ladies
Generally in anticipation of the turning of the season into summer, a feast is arranged for the village with many of the men coming home from the city to partake and enjoy time with their families. They will generally bring a new dress back with them for their wives as the one major present that they buy in a year, and they hand over the rest of their wages and savings to buy food with. The Dancing Ladies then emerge from the shadows to flaunt their bodies to the sound of the music and display their new finery.
Family Dinner
On one day every two weeks there is a growing tradition amongst some tribes that a more formal supper be held in each family’s house (rondawel) where all family members dress up a bit more smartly than normal, and partake. The matriarch of the family decides on the menu – tea is served with the meal. Neighbours will alternate these special nights to ensure security of the village is not compromised.
The Gathering
Sometimes when a very important issue comes up that will have a major impact on the village, the women are called into the chief’s meeting to observe and have the matriarch give their collective opinion to the men. When this occurs, the women all dress up in their finery for the occasion. This tradition, called a Gathering, is also observed when there are visits by dignitaries and other important people to the village. The finery colours are generally spectacular.
Serengeti Warriors
The painting shows a pair of Masai Mothers’ Warrior Sons. It is said by other tribes that Zulus are the “natural-born killers” of Africa - they use the ‘Shakan’ version of African martial arts. This involves stick fighting, an activity associated with fearsome warriors and masculine aggression. Once boys reach the age of fourteen they begin their training as warriors and they graduate at eighteen. Prior to 1900, a candidate warrior had to kill a lion to graduate - fortunately for lions this tradition has fallen away.
Mother and Son
A Mother and Son are watching the village’s cattle herd grazing and chewing the cud. The young man is the guardian herd-boy who takes his job very seriously- nothing must happen to the herd on his watch. The mother is very proud of her son and she makes sure that he wears his warrior uniform every morning that he “works”. It is now evening and they are contemplating rounding up the herd and taking them back to the village kraal, and safety for the night.
Single Mother
The portrait is of a young New Mother with her baby on her back, who is now ready to begin again her obligations to the village two weeks after giving birth. She is standing being bathed in the beautiful early morning hues of the African sun, quietly contemplating her duties for the day ahead. She is wearing vibrant colours so that people will notice her, approve of, and welcome her intention to become part of the team again.
Mother’s Balancing Act
This painting is a portrayal of the Balancing Act skill that an African mother is attempting to impart to her young daughter. Eventually her hands will no longer be required to hold the article in place on her head, such will be her ability allowing her to hand-carry other items at the same time. The child is very keen and serious to learn how to do this perfectly as a testament to her status to the other girls in the village.
Dancing Girls
At the end of the planting season, a celebration is held to thank the Giver of Life for the life he continues to give and the girls who have not yet been promised in marriage yet, gather together as Dancing Girls adorned in their mothers’ previous year’s finery. The young boys (warriors) are out keeping watch for thieves and intruders. The village headman and headwoman oversee the festivities, which carry on until dawn. Music is made by penny-whistle, one-stringed guitar and drums.
Joyful Mothers In-Waiting
Two Joyful Mothers - In-Waiting who have just had news of their first pregnancies which proves to their husbands and their extended families that they are indeed fertile and this finally validates the payment of the lobola that was paid for her. This is a very happy day for the village and a feast will be held in celebration. Word will immediately be sent to the fathers who will make arrangements to be back from the city in good time for the births.
Mother’s Little Helpers
An illustration showing an African Mother’s Little Helpers. From an early age, female children are required to help around the house doing chores – cleaning, helping with laundry and sewing new clothes for the family. They also help tend the small vegetable gardens that are next to each hut. Boys are out during the day to look after the villages’ herd of cattle and goats. There is no monetary payment for any of the work done by the children.
Mother’s Teaching
The role of a father in an African village community is to be the sole money provider for his family – he is away from the village in the city most of the time. The raising of the children in order for them to become valuable, honest, moral, hard-working, productive citizens is the obligation of the mother and the Mother’s Teaching. The portrait shows a mother teaching a daughter how items can be brought back for the family – e.g. firewood and drinking water.
Prospecting Mothers
This shows a group of beautiful young African women dressed up in all their finery with the sole purpose this evening of being Prospecting Mothers. They are on their way to a community party where they will flaunt themselves to eligible young bachelors who will be there to observe. Once a suitable match is identified, the man will approach the young lady’s father and ask for her hand. If the proposal is acceptable, a lobola (payment) is arranged to seal the deal.
Ugogo / Grandmother
This work shows the double duty that an African Grandmother undertakes in helping her village community to survive. She is cleaning the family’s cooking pot in preparation for the evening meal. Her son’s picannin (baby) is carried around on her back (abba), while the baby’s mother has gone to fetch water - which could take up to six hours. The father is away, working in one of the cities to make money for the family and he won’t be back for six months.
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Phone (778)-814-7369
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