African Wind
Chapter19
Charmed by Africa The Accessories?
African accessories have various distinctive styles & tastes according to area and tribal families, and the depth of their charms are totally astonishing, indescribable with words. And make you imagine all the African women decorating themselves with such beautiful ornaments.But in actual life, you rarely see local women wearing accessories in Africa. The answer was easy. In African countries where majority of the people are suffering from poverty, arty crafts like the ones we purchase are something that cost fortune to them, there’s no way they could afford to wear them. In addition to that, fairly rich people tend to go for accessories by Western brands, thus traditional accessories are actually fading out from their everyday life…. Nevertheless, the accessories that are being sold at markets in Africa are still very attracting to people like us. Unique forms, colorings, sensitive carvings & decorations,….So, in this chapter, I would like to introduce you to some of the attractive accessories I purchased in Africa.
Niger
The silver accessories by Saharan nomad “Toualeg” people which I have already introduced to everyone so many times. Each & every one of them is handmade, complex traditional carvings are so sensitive, simply outstanding. Combining agate into silver, carving complex patterns onto silver plates, not simply because it’s made in Africa, Toualeg accessories are one of the most attractive accessories in the world for me. The “Toualeg Model” of a series by a worldly-acclaimed maison-brand in 2003 is said to be inspired by these accessories by Toualeg people. Necklaces, rings, bracelets,…every Toualeg accessory is created in an outstanding artistic sense. Accessories to be worn especially by matured women.
There are also a lot of Toualeg accessories that can be worn by men. Rings & necklaces that are not combined with stones don’t limit sex, and are popular amongst fashion-/trend-conscious men.
Kenya
In Kenya, you will witness lots of accessories in reasonable prices, made of various natural resources such as banana fibers, soap stones & cow bones. Each of them are unique, and they give you colorful flavors to your daily life. My recommendation is pierced earrings mad of banana fibers. They are light, earthy looking & great as summer fashion item. And soap stones are colorful, and have impressive traditional patterns. Just be careful in handling them, since the stones are very fragile & breakable! Cow bone accessories are very “African” & wild, wearing them would change the whole style & atmosphere surrounding you. Each bits of cow bones are also available as parts, and I strongly recommend to purchase them & create your original accessories. Aside from the above, accessories made of things such as cowry shells which is what the locals in ancient times used as their currency, and other shells from 100 years ago, and those made of beads by Masai people are extremely unique as well.
Ethiopia
Ethiopian cross is an extremely popular item worldwide. They are also all handmade, but unlike the cross by Toualeg people, looks less sensitive. They may be preferred by men than women.
Ethiopia has lots of Christians of Old Testament, and a lot of their accessories such as stone cross & leather cross have religious meanings.
By the way, its capitol city, Addis Ababa, was named by an empress who looked down from a highland & mistaken rising hot spring steams as blooming white flowers. Addis Ababa does have hot springs, so “Addis Ababa” is the local word for “white flowers.” …a boy named Solomon taught me so. Is this a true story?
Trade Beads (glass beads)
Not many African people wear them now, but old beads that were exported from Europe (mainly places like Venice & Czech) to Africa during the colonial period are rare treasures with collectors existing around the globe.
Good ones without cracks or being chipped are hard to find, but I heard that some of the chief of villages in the remote area seem to have collectors’ items, and that they are being bought by collectors from advanced countries in prices that costs fortunes…. The celeb people who got tired of diamonds are enjoying them by making their own key rings, hair accessories & necklaces using these rare beads.
African JAG Project／ Noriko ASANO
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