ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE |
WHAT WE DO |
WHERE WE WORK | ISSUES WE FACE
Issues We Face - Art
As with music and literature, many African communities do not have the resources or market access to
leverage their talent and productive energies to preserve their
cultural heritage.
Like so many artisans
today, our artisans' livelihoods are threatened by competition from
lower quality vendors in China and India.
Many visitors to Africa may
not realize that an 'African' handicraft they purchase, whether bought
in Nairobi, Cape Town, or Cairo, is likely produced somewhere in south
Asia before being shipped through east Africa to be sold.
Additionally,
depictions of African artwork as naive and undeveloped, along with the
influences of cosmopolitan life, make handicraft traditions less
appealing to younger generations, as the arduous process of carving demands a
patience not readily accepted by youth. Slowly but surely, the handicraft tradition is dying out.
These pressures, combined with rising material costs and
a diminished appreciation for handmade goods, shape an unfavorable outlook for many African artisan groups.
To deal with these unavoidable competing interests, we strive to highlight and recognize our artisans' work as that which is produced in small
quantities but to a unique and high standard, which gives our groups a competitive advantage within the handicraft market.
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