AN OLD MAN WHO PLAYS HIS LIFE
This is the carving of an
old man who played his life when he was young. I carve this type of carving to
educate the society that do not play with life when you are young for
 luxury.
As it is seen in the picture this old man was not keeping money for himself for
the future life. Also he was not remember to get married to woman when he was
young, whence, he remembered to get married while he is old aged person.
All his life was a drunkard
person and other forms of luxurious life, example exchanging women and gambling.
He also did not follow the advice from his age mate. He decided to get married
while he was old, he succeeded to get two children who failed to provide them
with basic needs due to lack of power to do work, hence, he had no money to
spend with his family. This reason affects his children to lack education and to
live in hard life because their father played with life when he was young. This
cause an old man to be full of thoughts and to perform hard work so that to get
money to support his family. This condition is bad because he some time be a
beggar and even think of killing himself which is a dangerous action to children
that he leave. The young's must be aware of
what they do because time do not come back.
HISTORY OF MASAI CARVINGS
One of carving I do is
Masai carvings. I carve Masai because is the most loved tribe by tourists
during their tour trips to East Africa. The reason why do they most love is
their ways of living culturally; their appearance and living by depend on
livestock's. This tribe is different from other tribes of Tanzania, for
example as the carving seen in the
 picture
normally Masai wears clothes of the same type which known as "Masai
blankets" the most preferable color is red. They also wear shoes made from
car tires. Also Masai decorate themselves with beads around their
necks, hands and legs. Not only that but also this tribe shelter themselves
into bush by building their huts of wonderful shape. This tribe do not agree
to mix with other tribe due to fear that their cultural will be interfered,
that's the reason for them to isolate themselves and decide to stay in the
bush by establishing villages for themselves. By doing so they believe that
their traditions, cultural and values is respected up to this moment.
Normally young Masai is
the one who decorate hair and wear red Masai blanket. He carries shield and
spear showing that is the defender of the hut and also the hero of the
family. In order for young Masai to be respected within the society he must
kill a lion to show the society that he is real hero. Masai woman is contrary
to Masai man. Once a woman is married, her task is to take care of the
family, milking the cattle and selling them in order to buy food for the
family. Also the woman is the one who builds hut for the family. This system
of life attracts a lot of tourists and some times made tours to Masai to
study their living and what is done by Masai.
THE TROUBLESOME
WOMAN
This is a woman who played her younghood in prostitution. She did not accept the
offer of marriage. She thought that being under a man would not give her a
chance to get leisure such as alcohol drink, dancing, sexual abuse. As she is
seen in the carving, she has so many children yet she is pregnant; she has a
very heavy luggage on top of her head. Generally her life is too difficult and
all the children she has their fathers are unknown. This woman had not known
safe sexual, that's why she impregnated without knowing. I carve here to teach
the society about the effect of prostitution as well as unprotected sexual.
Prostitution and unprotected sexual is the major cause of the most dangerous
disease HIV/AIDS. Not only that but also prostitution cause street children, and
heavy burden of family care to woman with regard that the children lack fathers
from that reason we can say most African societies which undergoing prostitution
will no liberate themselves from poverty. Simply because they lack education
which is the forum for the life.
HISTORY OF MAKONDE
PEOPLE
The Makonde tribe is the among the importance tribe of Tanzania. They origin is
said to be from the Northern part of Mozambique. The Makonde shifted from
Mozambique during the 18th Century when they were escaping the tribal war
between them and the Ngoni tribe which were originating from South Africa and
later on the slave trade move. When they shifted to Tanzania they occupied
Mtwara, Lindi and Ruvuma regions. The Makonde tribe maintained their culture and
customs, could be easily identified by marked (slashed) faces around their eyes,
the art of making "carving" in Tanzania easily named as "MAKONDE CARVINGS".
By using carving they were able to educate the community regarding different
issues, events and happenings.
For the Makonde tribe boys of 6 to 7 years of age
were taken to special places for circumcision that was a sign that the boy has
changed his status from childhood to adult, it is at this stage where these
young men were taught to make things, customs, disciplines etc. These
young boys were trained by a man who was appearing in a very fear full costume
holding in his hands various Makonde carving, the elders would notify the
young's on visitors coming, with the animal skins dressings. The visitor was
appearing with three types of Makonde carving. The first carving was of
grandmother type, and they were told that you could make jokes with grandmother.
The second was of a lady; representing mother this sign showed that you should
make respect to mothers because they were parents and elders. No jokes were
allowed. The third carving was of a girl whom you can play together, make jokes
and later on you could get marriage to her.
Other things which are performed by Makonde tribe
is competition on traditional dancing, traditional from making black (Iron
smith) for various tools for "WAHUNZI" farming, hunting. Weapons like "arrows"
under the Makonde system the "clan" which was to be highly recognized is the
clan which worn the art of carving.
THE ART OF CARVING
The Makonde youngs do start learning the art of carving from the age of 8 years,
the boys got the training from their grandfathers or from their fathers, this
type of training was normally conducted before the young boys start the normal
primary school education. The sense of seeing is the key scene in this training.
Several individuals, farms and activities were shown in one piece of wood.
Dreams the carving maker" will produce, Devils and very fearful carvings.
CHANGES IN THE MAKONDE
In the 19th Century when the missionaries visited the Makonde area on their
intention to preach religion, they took time to adapt although later on they
changed. Their firm stand in belief they believed on "ancestors" who died before
to adapt on the change they started making carving on the "Cross" of Jesus
Christ which were used to preach Christianity, Maria the mother of Jesus,
candles etc. Some of the Missionaries returned home in Europe after completion
of their stay in missionaries works. They gave Europeans informations about
Makonde carving art.
The rewards from Makonde carving, which were taken back home by missionaries
signified the art of Makonde carving. After these events of missionaries most of
visitors coming abroad were searching for Makonde carving once they came to
Tanzania. Visitors came with difference things to make exchange of Makonde
carving. Later on small traders came to buy Makonde carving products but they
were paying very little, this situation made some of the craftsmen to look for
better market places. They started shifting to other places like Dar es Salaam,
Kilwa, Bagamoyo, others thought of going to important tourism areas. Even
thought the benefits are still low due to the fact that they have low capital
for better investment in the entrepreneur.
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