* * * * *
*
* * *
*
Guruve Home
*
Guruve News
*
Gallery
*
Sculpture for Collectors
Garden Sculpture
More Sculpture
Paintings & Prints
How to Buy
List of Artists
*
Events
*
Exhibitions
*
Ethical Business
*
The Guruve Story
Young Sculptors
Sponsored Workshop
Donations
*
African Art
*
Shona Art Movement
Art in Bulawayo
Art in Uganda
Art in The Gambia
*
Restoration
*
Sculpture Care & Repair
*
Contact Us
*
Quotes & Photos
*



Follow guruvedotcom on Twitter


 
Ceremony
Njogu Touray

Acrylic on canvas

2007

70cm (h)
60cm (w)

£ 750

This painting is part of Njogu's kenyeleng series, inspired by the colourful and unusual dress and activities of this women's group in The Gambia.

The circles represent containers made from gourds, which would be used to pour liquids during the ceremony. The cowrie shells as heads represent the wealth of the family, the fact that kenyeleng women value fertility so highly and are focused on restoring theirs.

The kenyeleng women may cook on the street and eat together. While they eat, they may joke or even rub food on their faces to add to their disguise. Their unusual dress and behaviour is designed to fool the evil spirits, who they blame for taking away their ability to have children.