The rich tapestry of African history is woven with the stories of remarkable women who stood at the forefront of the struggle for equality, freedom, and progress. Consider the Ashanti people of Ghana, where Queen Yaa Asantewaa, a legendary military leader, demonstrated immense bravery in leading the Ashanti-British "War of the Golden Stool" in 1900, resisting colonial rule. In the same region, Queen Mother Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko II passionately advocates for education, women's empowerment, and cultural preservation.
In the Diaspora, figures like Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks, symbols of courage and resistance, played pivotal roles in the fight against slavery and segregation. Maya Angelou, a renowned poet and civil rights activist, used her eloquence to advocate for justice and equality.
Enter second-generation Master Carver R. Amani from Ghana, who collaborated with my product development team to create the "Woman of Wisdom" Award. We wanted this Award to honor women who tirelessly overcome challenges to improve their communities and uplift the less fortunate. Amani's personal connection to the cause, inspired by his mother's sacrifices for his education and personal development, adds a profound layer of authenticity to the Award.
Why share this story? To underscore the importance of African-inspired awards as a culturally resonant platform for celebrating the achievements of People of Color. This drive to create Motherland Awards for diaspora celebrations is a testament to the power of indigenous crafts, steeped in history and creativity, to authentically recognize and honor accomplishments within our communities.
Our Awards are handmade in Ghana and honor Africa and World history, culture and symbolism. Each piece, an original includes -
We have a wide variety of Awards for all major categories - Leadership, Inspirational, Community Service, Excellence, Diversity, Mentoring, and Life Achievement.
Not only do we market these Awards to organizations to recognize their outstanding people, but we at African Heritage Collection also want to do our part, without obligation, to recognize those who work passionately every day to inspire and uplift the causes, community, and people we are connected to.
The carving is of museum quality and, for the recipient, the Award holds significant value as it becomes a timeless piece of Art for generations.
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The Gye Nyame (Gee-Yaa-Me) symbol is arguably the most beautiful and ubiquitous of the Adinkra sacred symbols ascribed to the Akan people who settled in the area of West Africa that is now called Ghana and Ivory Coast.
The word Nyame is one of many names the Akan people use to describe the Supreme Being and Creator of the universe. The meaning draws from an African proverb about the mystery of creation; that there is no life that existed at its beginning and none will witness its end, except God. With the supreme and omniscient God, nothing is impossible. The symbol is well known to people of the African diaspora.
The average Ghanaian invokes God’s name countless times in daily conversations; a reflection of the deeply religious character of the people and their deep-seated belief in God’s supremacy.
Because of its popularity, the Gye Nyame symbol has widespread applications among Ghanaians and people in the diaspora – on shirts, clothing & traditional wear, jewelry, accessories, tattoos, furniture, and buildings. Most recently, it has been designed as a Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize leadership and excellence in the African-American community.
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Elmina Castle is a white-washed Medieval Castle located in the central region of Ghana. It is the oldest European building south of the Sahara Desert. It was built by the Portuguese in 1482. The Elmina Castle is a bastion of a dark slave history – the last place that thousands of African Slaves would ever see of their homeland before being shipped to the Americas and other parts of the world. The Dutch seized the fort from the Portuguese in 1637 and continued the slave trade until 1814.
In 1872, the British took over from the Dutch until 1957 when it granted the Gold Coast its independence and control of the castle was transferred to the nation formed out of the colony, present-day Ghana.
Today Elmina Castle is a popular historical site, and a major filming location. It was visited by President Barack Obama during his African tour in 2009. A must see for any visitor to Ghana!
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Sankofa is a word in the Twi language of Ghana that means "Go back and get it" (San – go back; ko - to go; fa - to fetch, to seek and take). The Sankofa symbol is one of the more popular and recognizable of the Adinkra symbols. The symbol is illustrated two ways; 1) by a bird with its head turned backwards retrieving an egg on its back, or 2) as a stylish heart-shaped design.
The image of the mythological bird with its head looking backward has been interpreted and re-interpreted many different ways. More commonly, however, it is seen as embracing one’s heritage or returning to a person’s roots. It reinforces the idea of community and family and using past experiences to help build a better future.
The pleasing symmetry of the abstract designs along with their clean lines and subtle visual cues, have made them ideal symbols in tattooing, for T-shirts, on traditional cloth, building designs, and Awards.
SANKOFA – Symbol of heritage, wisdom, community, and a better future.
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Handmade Art, Symbolism and Class come together nicely in our unique, new line of "Kingdom Art Trophies & Recognition Awards” - a Handmade Art alternative to the traditional acrylic/metallic style awards.
Designed by the Company’s principal, Julius Aboagye, the new awards incorporate Handmade Art that are already steeped in history and symbolism. Each piece, an original, includes a Certificate of Authenticity that reflects a unique story line. That means an Award can be selected for presentation by matching its symbolism to the purpose for the recognition. Some of the designs draw from centuries-old sacred Adinkra symbols that collectively formthe complex body of practice and belief in pre-literate Ghanaian society. But more than that, the designs also draw on popular symbols of love and family that have universal appeal.
There are awards for Leadership, Inspiration, Community Service, Excellence, Diversity, Mentoring, Lifetime Achievement, etc,. The awards can be either table-top or wall pieces and can be customized to meet the client’s needs. The hand-carving and finish are of museum quality and, for the recipient, the Award holds significant value as it becomes a timeless piece of art for generations.
The awards are marketed to Schools & colleges, businesses, churches, civic and professional organizations. Aboagye explains that plans are in the works to use the same concept to introduce an ancillary line of special occasion gift pieces for weddings, anniversaries, graduations, valentine’s day and more.
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Adinkra Symbol Corner #5 – SESA WO SUBAN
Sesa Wo Suba (se-sa wo su-ban) symbol means “Change you character”. It signifies personal reflection and transformation. It‘s a composition of two symbols; the inner star which represents a new day and an outer wheel which implies initiative and moving forward. The symbol encourages people, especially the youth, to make a positive change to the world by their actions.
SESA WO SUBAN - Symbol of life transformation
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You know us for bringing you the culture and traditions of Ghana through ingeniously crafted artifacts. Many of you have asked us to include popular recipes in our “Discover Ghana” blogs. What a great idea! And there are tons of them – simple, freshly crafted mouth-watering recipes you will enjoy. Here’s the first one – Kelewele.
KELEWELE, (pronounced Kay-lay-way-lay) is popular Ghanaian side dish made of fried ripe plantains seasoned with spices - ginger, cayenne pepper, salt. Kelewele is commonly sold by street vendors late afternoons and in the evenings. Plantains are a member of the banana family. They are a starchy, low in sugar variety and usually fried or baked. Plantains are longer and have thicker skin than bananas. They are green in color when harvested. When ripen, they become softer and the skin color changes to yellow/black. Kelewele has grown in popularity in the U.S. thanks to the growing influence of African recipes.
Ingredients (2-3 serving portions):
2-4 ripe plantains.
1-2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or ½ teaspoon of crushed red-pepper) to taste.
1 tablespoon of grated ginger root (or ginger powder) to taste.
Pinch of salt.
Preparation (15-20 minutes prep & cook time):
Peel plantains and cut into bite-size cubes.
Rub plantains with mixture of pepper, ginger and salt.
Heat one cup of oil (or more as needed) to about 350 degrees in a deep skillet (deep enough to allow plantains to float ). Fry plantains (just enough so they don’t touch each other), turning regularly until golden brown.
Remove plantains and drain on paper towel to remove excess oil. Keep warm in oven until ready to serve. Serve plantains alone or with dry roasted peanuts. Enjoy and let us know when you try it.
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According to 2013 global poll released by WIN-Gallup International, a world-wide network of leading opinion pollsters, Ghana tops the list as the most religious country in the world with 96% of people in the country thinking of themselves as religious.
The WIN-Gallup International ‘Religion and Atheism Index’, which measures global self-perceptions on beliefs, is based on interviews with more than 50,000 men and women selected from 57 countries across the globe in five continents. The survey also provides trend data for monitoring shifts in global attitudes in the last ten years.
If you’ve ever been to Ghana or know someone from Ghana it's not surprising that Ghana tops the poll. Ghanaians tend to wear their faith on their sleeve. Their cultural traditions and social norms are woven into their religious beliefs and practices. A simple greeting of “How are you? (Wo ho tse sen?) is met with the response, “Awurade Adom“ (By God’s grace, I’m well). Say goodbye to someone as you begin a journey and you will hear “Wo ne Awurade Nko” (“Go with God”). Notify them that you have arrived at your destination and they will almost always say “Ye da Awurade Ase” (“Thanks be to God”). It’s fair to say that the growth of unorthodox Christian churches have far outgrown any other institution in Ghana over the last decade; small, large, and Mega Churches dot the landscape.
Ghana boasts a collection of sacred Adinkra symbols. Adinkra is a Ghanaian cotton cloth that has traditional symbols of the Akan people (the largest ethnic group) stamped on it. The centuries-old symbols number more than sixty and represent idioms conveying wisdom and commentary about universal aspects of life. Each of the Adinkra symbols has a distinct meaning, often linked with proverbs. It is believed the symbols were originally the means in a pre-literate Ghanaian society for communicating the complex body of practice and belief. It is not unusual to find some symbols with more than one design.
Arguably the most popular Adinkra symbol in the diaspora is “Gye Nyame (Gee-yaa-may). Translated, it means “Except for God” and signifies the supremacy and omniscience of God. The symbol is used in decorations, clothing, and artwork.
By the way .... the top ten most religious countries in the world are..... Ghana, Nigeria, Armenia, Fiji, Macedonia, Romania, Iraq, Kenya, Peru, and Brazil.
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WOFORO DUA PAA (woforu-dua-paa) is a Ghanaian phrase that means “When you climb a good tree…” The symbol signifies support, cooperation and encouragement. It implies that any good cause is worth fighting for and will generate the necessary support to achieve its goals.
WOFORO DUA PAA – Symbol of support, cooperation, and encouragement.
DWENNIMMEN (jwen-ni-men) translates to Ram’s Horns. It is a symbol of strength of humility. The ram can be a fierce adversary but submits easily to slaughter; a reminder that even the strong should be humble...
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DWENNIMMEN - Symbol of Strength and humility.
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Try to keep your pieces away from excessive heat and humidity fluctuations to avoid fading, cracking, or warping. During winter, if heating makes your home too dry, using a humidifier helps. Generally, polished items can hold their luster for a long time with minor dusting. However, if the piece could use some shine, smear a little amount of shoe polish on the item with a dry cloth, wait a few minutes (15 minutes or so) and buff it with a soft, dry cloth. Depending on the color of the item, you may use black or brown shoe polish. I prefer to use neutral shoe polish which works just as well on any color.
Painted finishes require even less maintenance than polished ones; periodic dusting is all you need. Avoiding direct sunlight is always a good idea. On some occasions, I’ve wiped my tables with Orange Glo Wood Furniture Cleaner and Polisher. You can find it in most hardware stores. I do not recommend using water or detergents to clean your pieces. Caution – as with any cleaning or refinishing job, it’s always best to test a small hidden area to check results before proceeding. If you’re not sure, seek professional advice.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your collection.
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Ananse Ntontan (a-NAN-Si N-ton-TAN) literally means Spider’s Web. It is a symbol of wisdom, creativity, and the complexities of life. Wisdom relates to experience, knowledge, and good judgment in decision-making and taking action. Creativity includes using imagination and original ideas in artistic work or creating something new and different.
Ananse, the spider, is a well-known character in West African folklore. Stories describe the spider as the Messenger of the Supreme Being, weaving a communication web of “tumi” (energy) that permeates all Creation – spirit world and physical world. Ananse also bears the title of “Chief Prankster”.
ANANSE NTONTAN - Symbol of Wisdom, Creativity, and Complexities of life.
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Charles Oppong was born blind in the village of Nwiso in the Eastern Region of Ghana. To make matters worse, he was abandoned by his parents because of his disease. His uncle became his guardian throughout his early years until high school age. Then money ran out. With no more financial support to continue his education, Oppong dropped out of high school to beg on the streets of Ghana.
Even in his predicament, Oppong was very ambitious and had visions of becoming a musician. He shared his dream with whoever would listen. With donations and money he garnered from the streets, he formed a group called the Royal Sparrows Ministry Band of Ghana in 2006. His mission was to leverage the musical talents of his blind friends to eke out a living and improve their quality of life.
Our company’s principal, Julius Aboagye, met Oppong in 2012 on one of his trips to Ghana. Julius was touched by his story and his burning desire to empower the lives of people with disabilities. He decided to become an advocate for Oppong and his growing band of more than twenty members. Some of the band’s immediate needs were laptop computers to help with the recording and practice sessions. Oppong’s goal was to divide the band into two or more groups to enable them play at multiple functions and earn more income.
Julius brought the band’s request to his church in the United States. Through the church’s fundraising efforts and Julius’ personal donation, two laptops were purchased and sent to the group in Ghana in June 2014.
Since the donation, Oppong is in the process of breaking the band into two groups. He has also formed an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), called Royal Sparrows Ministry International to promote awareness and empower the rights of people with disabilities in Ghana.
Julius continues to advocate for the Royal Sparrows Ministry band and their cause. Stay tuned for more updates about the band in the future.
Click the link below to view more pictures and videos of the band.
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Years later, Mensah earned enough money to start his own Kente weaving business. The business flourished and he was able to support a family and hire some apprentices. Over the years, many of his Kente strips have made their rounds to college graduations in the U.SA. His family is ever grateful that he saw and embraced his passion as early as he did. Like his uncle, he is giving back to his community by helping to train the next generation of Kente weavers.
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On your next trip to Ghana, or if you know anyone heading there, have them try the Ghana coconut water. It's very cheap and one of the best drinks on earth!
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The artisans held an unprecedented workshop to brainstorm ideas. They listened to the feedback and ideas from many of you. Then they rolled up their sleeves and got to work. The result is new and treasure finds in our Fall Collection that will add comfort and style to your home.
Checkout scenes from final quality control checks before the journey to the U.S.A. We work hard to bring you the quality you deserve at wallet-friendly prices. #africanfurniture #africanAccessories #africandecor @africanhc
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Don't try this at home. Watch and marvel at the wonders of hand-carving.....
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No sophisticated machinery, no production line, no guidelines, no formal training. Just simple, nondescript tools.
So what does it take to be a master carver? Passion, patience, and a heavy dose of God-given artistic talent. And that's the way it has been for centuries. Kwesi Asante has it, so does Olu, and K. Amani, all 2nd and 3rd generation master carvers from Ghana who rely on their talent to support their large extended families.
And the passion from each remains as strong as ever - driven by a sense of fulfillment from creating conversation pieces for the world to enjoy.
Click below to see video.
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Background:
Dad was devout a Christian, instilling these virtues in us growing up. It was his heart-felt desire to give back to his community by building a pastor's residence for his church in the town of Dawu in Ghana that badly needed one. Accommodation in the community was virtually non-existent and the church lacked funds to build one. That made it extremely difficult to attract clergy. The residence would be a "Mission House" and also accommodate Church functions and other community religious activities. Unfortunately Dad was not able to realize his dream during his lifetime. Just before passing, he reminded me of his promise to the church; I gave him my assurances and he passed away in peace. Two and a half years after his passing, in April, 2014, we broke ground and the project began in earnest.
Timeline:
Jan - April 2014: Architectural plans for the "Mission House" were completed and a builder was selected.
May - Jun 2014: Church land for the project was cleared and the building foundation was completed.
Click below to view the entire progress to date.
]]>From humble beginnings, Master carver Amani has worked hard to accomplish the dream of managing his own craft shop.
]]>Master carver Amani’s childhood was shaped mainly by his mother’s love and her desire to see him live a productive life. He saw his mother work very hard to support his education while his father was largely absent. He vowed to be a role model for his children. That drove him to set up his own craft shop with support from African Heritage Collection.
Today Amani's fortunes have turned around. He is well established and his business continues to flourish and provide income to support his family and educate his children. He plans to give back to his community by providing opportunities for emerging artisans.
Amani's shop produces a wide range of colorful products including Walking Sticks, Spirit of Africa Mask, Moment of Silence, and Zulu Queen. We salute Amani for a job well done!
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Twenty-four years in the craft business, I've never seen Ashanti stools this big! Master carver K. Asante discovered the fallen log by accident. A log so big and so deep in the forest, you can only carve the stools on site and bring them to his shop for finishing.
The Stool measures approximately 30"L x 20"W x 25"H. Sitting height is 25"H, about one and half times the height of a standard chair, and weighs a whopping 40lbs! I tested it and felt the rush of a King on a throne. It gives new meaning to the word "Heirloom".
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In spite of its growing population, the Ghanaian culture is woven into a network of small communities and neighborhoods where everyone knows each other. The social media is vibrant and well entrenched. It is not uncommon for friends or neighbors to stop by unannounced to check on each other.
Certain daily rituals are culturally “mandated” as a gesture of goodwill and caring for each other. You feel like you are never alone – that help is around the corner when you need it. Within hours of arrival, you quickly hear and learn some common phrases:
“Akwaaba” – A welcome greeting.
“Maakye” – A good morning greeting.
“Yesu Adom” – Means the Grace of God.
Ghana is considered one of the most religious countries in the world and it certainly shows. Ask anyone “How Are You”, and the most common response is “Yesu Adom”. Their hospitality will make you want to come back again and again.
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Pictured in a native Dashiki top with family and church officials offering prayers at the ground-breaking ceremony to begin the fulfillment of Dad's wish. I'll keep you posted on the progress of the project.
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Traveling to Ghana is always an exciting time for me; not so much as a Principal of the company, but more like an individual returning to a homeland. It is an opportunity to re-connect with my large network of the artisans and find new talent; but it goes beyond business to meeting their families, listening to them and sharing the joys and milestones in their lives.
The trip is also about searching for rare hand-carved treasures for market. Unique pieces and the stories behind them. The trip will take me through many corners of the country; remote villages that represent the heart of the carving industry to bring you stories about their hopes and aspirations. You will see pictures and videos that give you insightful information about the history, culture, and lifestyle of the people of Ghana.
Stay Tuned.
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As a Principal of the company, one of the enjoyable things about my work is selecting new pieces. Because I know a lot of artisans, the word gets around and I'm often bombarded with lots of samples hoping to be selected for market. Selection means exposure for the artisan and an opportunity to grow their business and support their family.
How do I make my selection?
I get a lot of feedback and ideas for new products from many of you and that's a blessing. That means I'm able to bring you pieces that you ask for and I love that. Thank you La Trisha Payne for your ideas on Mother & Child pieces. Keep those suggestions coming! Check out our latest collection of New Arrivals.
I will be visiting Ghana very soon and I can't wait to see what is waiting for me. Stay tuned!
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K. Amani is a talented carver discovered by African Heritage Collection decades ago. The company provided him the necessary tools and challenged him with new concepts and ideas to hone his carving skills. His attention to detail was extraordinary and his reputation soared. Still, he had challenges in his transition from apprenticeship to being on his own. Our company provided him much needed financing to enable him set up his own artisan shop and hire apprentices.
Today Amani's fortunes have turned around. He is well established and his business continues to flourish and provide income to support his family and educate his children. He plans to give back to his community by providing opportunities for emerging artisans.
Amani's shop produces a wide range of colorful products including Wisdom Mask, Fulani Mask, and family-themed pieces - Heart-shaped lovers, Mother & Child, Kneeling & Praying Angels and I Love You statuette.
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The winner of our free Djembe drum giveaway was C. Raynor. She won it during an evening of Art, Jazz, and dance by Grammy winning singer/songwriter, Angelique Kidjo on February 20, 2014. Video shows Carroll getting a congratulatory hug from Julius Aboagye, Principal of African Heritage Collection.
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