The East African wild landscape is dotted with towering domes and pyramids whose clusters present stunning, breathtaking scenes of mud handcrafts. Built by tiny white to cream coloured insects of size range 1/4″- 3/8 inches long, these termite hills, as they are called, are impressive enough from the outside but on the inside, the architectural sophistication is really out of the ordinary. This article looks at these talented ‘craftsinsects’ and presents the inside view of a termite mound.

The crafters:

These mud castles are build by subterranean termites comprised of about 200 species. These are social herbivorous insects living in colonies whose population can range from a few dozen to several millions. Each colony consists of a king and queen, who are the only fertile termites, the strong jawed soldier termites who defend the entrance to the mound (against invaders primarily ants) and the worker termites who attend to the queen, look after the eggs and larva and maintain the hill. The queen spends all her life laying eggs. The worker termites construct the hill using earth mixed with saliva, a mixture which dries and sets like concrete. They are the architects, the structural engineers and the landscapers.

The Larders: Termites are also very talented food conservators in their living larders. Sample this: African termites derive their nutrition mainly from dead wood or any other material containing cellulose, which is difficult to digest, so their droppings are still rich in nutrients. To reduce waste, the termites cultivate a fungus on their droppings, which breaks down the manure and after six weeks the termite can eat and digest the compost plus the fungal growths.

The inside view: the interior of the termite mound has larders, gardens, air conditioning systems, living chambers, cellars, wells, chimneys and the royal palace.

Air conditioning: The colony is heavily populated by very active termites inevitably leading to production of a lot of heat. To counter this, a termite hill incorporates a very elaborate cooling system in its interior design. This basically consists of a cold cellar at the bottom and a large cavity centrally placed above the base cellar. A network of chimneys rises from the central cavity to the outside. Hot air flows upwards into the central cavity from where it is directed out through the chimneys. Cooler, fresh oxygenated air from outside replaces the hot air at the base cellar. In addition, a network of air ducts in porous outer ridges complements the above cooling systems. Man invented sophisticated air conditioners but he may not be the pioneer of the idea.

Underground Gardens: African termites cultivate fungus in underground gardens. For better yield, sometimes termites dig a deep well down to the water table. The moisture helps the fungal growth.

The palace: the royal chamber is situated right at the heart of the termite mound. This is the royal cell where the queen lives.

About the author:
Dr Aggrey Marami has special interest in culture and wild animals. He has also spent a lot of time with wild animals. For more amazing facts about African handicraft and culture visit :=>
http://www.ammarami.com

Throughout history, man has come to learn the different methods which can be used in order to manipulate different materials and use these in order to better our lives. Although some of these materials have now been replaced by modern, man made materials to manufacture many items, there are some which have stood the test of time and are still regularly used today. Soapstone has been used regularly throughout history to create figurines and other carved items. Originally used due to the ease which comes from carving this soft stone, soapstone is still used today in order to create beautiful handicrafts which can be found all over the world.

Soapstone is one of the many talc-based rock types, made up from a combination of silicon oxide, oxygen, magnesium oxide, water and loose molecules of magnesium and silicon which helps to create the soft texture of the rock. The stone can vary in color depending on other minerals which may have come into contact with the rock during its creation, with many artists finding the stone in black, green, pink and white colors in which to work with within their sculptures-allowing for vibrant, bold sculptures. Due to its readiness in terms of the texture of the stone and how easily it takes to carving materials, it comes as to no surprise why this material is so widely used by sculptors.

Soapstone artifacts have been found for centuries in various locations across the globe. From Egyptian tombs to Native North America, soapstone has been widely used in order to create a multitude of tools and utensils. During the Ming dynasty in China, soapstone was often used in favor of jade which was a more expensive material to use for sculpting. Other ancient cultures have used the stone in order to carve bowls, pipes and figures to depict their native ancestors. There is also belief in soapstone helping to track human transport and trading through tracking the color, compositions and different geographical areas in which the stone can be found. As time has passed, the ways in which these sculptures have been created has evolved as has the use for the stone. In previous times, soapstone was carved using little more than a chip of flint, with sand being used in order to polish and finish the piece. Modern technology allows for soapstone sculptures to be created using mallets, chisels and rasps, with sandpaper being used to smooth down the surface of the stone for a professional finish.

When carved into beautiful sculptures, soapstone creates an intricately sculptured piece which can often resemble marble due to the patterns within the rock. Although known for being a soft rock, soapstone is a fantastic material to use within sculpting due its many characteristics. Due to its nonporous surface and its resilience to heat, it makes it the perfect material to be used for items which may be exposed to high temperatures. It is for this reason that aside from beautiful handicrafts, the stone is still widely used in order to create many cookware items within Scandinavian countries. It also has resilience to acid which makes it a great material for use in many homes and even laboratories. However, when it comes to beautiful soapstone handicrafts, the stone provides a world of possibilities to the artist. The stone can be carved as small as the artist can work, allowing for small intricate designs and sculptures and with its smooth finish, buyers will be investing in a truly stylish and professionally made handicraft.

When it comes to adding art in your home, look into investing into a soapstone sculpture. Not only will you be provided with an item which will truly be an asset within your home, but you will also be holding onto a piece of history.

About the author:
Dr Aggrey Marami has special interest in culture and wild animals. He has also spent a lot of time with wild animals. For more amazing facts about African handicraft and culture visit :
http://www.ammarami.com

For many years, the art of wood carving from Africa is known to be one of the most beautiful, natural and unique in the world. It has maintained its huge economic and cultural importance to the people of Africa in general and to the artists in particular. This art of wood carving is centuries old and is passed down form generation to generation. This enables the work to become not only consistent, but also better with time.

The cultural values of wood carving varies somewhat from tribe to tribe in Africa. Among the Akan of Ghana and La Cote d’Ivoire the use of wood carving in symbolism is recognized right form family (Obusua) to the state (Oman) level. Wooden stools are symbols of authority and power , for example . In Kenya, among the Kalenjin tribe, wooden clubs (Chepunyo) are carried only by circumcised men and their design varies from one age group to another.This culture is obeyed,sometimes in total disregard of ones high and powerful status in modern day society.Such is the power of wood carving in African culture.

The economic aspect of wood carvings, on the other hand, is a more recent development. With better communication among nations, and the onset of the internet in the nineteen nineties, the beautiful , unique African wood carvings acquired wider exposure to the outside world. They were marketed as home and office decors, gifts to loved ones and domestic utensils. They did not disappoint.

Many different types of materials are used in African Handicraft. Wood and soapstone are commonly used to make unique, exciting sculptures while baskets are woven from natural fiber such as sisal . In keeping with tradition, sculpting is done by men while basket weaving is done by women. Most sculptures take the form of animals and humans with close link to the country of origin. Even when African handicraft items are based on the same subject matter and design, the fact that they are handmade with simple tool, makes them very unique. No two items will be alike. Wood remains the most important material to the artists mainly because it is easily accessible. It is also relatively easy to carve items out of wood enabling the artists to express their thoughts more easily and freely.

However, do not be fooled that African wood cravings would not be of high quality just because they are made from some natural material and with simple tools. The wood is either soft or hard – each type with its own positives or negatives. Regardless of the wood used, however, you will never be in any doubt that your carving will not be of the highest quality. The final product will be something you will be extremely proud to show off.

The purchase of unique, original African wood carvings is on the rise because the products are truly exquisite and one of a kind piece of art. They are made from materials local to the country of origin by very talented and hardworking citizens of Africa. Just one look at these beautiful creations will assure you that you are not only in the presence of a beautiful handicraft but also something which represents African culture, history and heritage.

About the author
Dr. Aggrey Marami has special interest in wild animals and culture. He has lived in close proximity to wild animals for years. For more amazing facts about African handicraft and culture visit:-

http://www.ammarami.com

Both hard wood carvings and soapstone sculptures are a representative of a unique art. These pieces of African handicraft have been produced for hundreds of years and are pieces of culture. They are generally produced as a representation of animals and humans, both of which are linked to the native country. If you are looking for that unique touch to your home or an unusual gift to send to a loved one then these pieces are defiantly high up on the list of recommendations. Whether you want to bring back memories of a trip to Africa or you simply love the quality and attention to detail that goes into making these products, they are sure to be a good investment. So what is it that makes them so sought after? Well let’s start by looking at hard wood carvings…

Hard Wood Carvings
Within East Africa, this type of handicraft are the most common forms of sculptures available. They generally represent human or animal forms. The main reason why the majority of carvings come from this material is because wood is so easily available. The artists that carry out this craft can, therefore, do so on a regular basis, and thanks to this, the items that they produce are now readily available to people all over the world. On top of this, wood is also very easy to work with, meaning the artists that carve using it only need to be equipped with basic rather than advanced tools.

There are two types of wood that can be used for carving, soft and hard. Although hard wood is known to crack more easily than soft, it is a lot stronger. As a result, it can withstand damage by insects and weather changes much longer, meaning the carvings that are available to you are highly durable without suffering a loss of quality. Thanks to the quality of the wood that these handicrafts are made from, you are safe in the knowledge that whatever item you purchase will be made and finished to the highest of standards.

Soapstone Sculptures
When it comes to soapstone, these sculptures are generally created in western Kenya.This is because soapstone in Kenya,is only found in Kisii area. This substance gains its name from the soapy feel that is associated with talc; it is a soft substance that is easily carvable, making it possible to craft beautiful items. The sculptures that are produced from this material can depict almost any form, shape or size and generally revolve around animals, tribal themes and human figures.

All African handicraft products, regardless of the materials they are crafted from, are made by very talented, hardworking ordinary citizens and the skills that they possess are handed down from generation to generation. The finished products are stunning in their design and craftsmanship,but don’t just take my word for it, see for yourself and I’m sure you’ll agree.

About the author:
Dr Aggrey Marami has special interest in culture and wild animals. He has also spent a lot of time with wild animals. For more amazing facts about wild animals and culture visit :=>
http://www.ammarami.com

Photography is a process or art of creating still or moving pictures using a camera. It is based on the physical properties of light and requires high technology. Handicraft ,on the other hand, is the art of making utility (usable) and decorative items completely by hand or using simple tools. Examples of this include wood carvings, soapstone sculptures and hand woven bags and baskets. It is not surprising therefore that photography has been for the more developed western countries while handicraft has been an art for the less developed countries like Kenya. But how do these two arts relate to each other in today’s global village?

In this article, I will restrict the discussion to situations in the East African game parks where majority of visitors to these countries end up in, thereby making the game park a potential convergence point for african handicraft and photography. Visitors to these parks are not allowed to remove anything from the parks as exemplified by one stern warning I recently saw at Lake Manyara Game Park in Tanzania. It read “Do not take anything from the park except: Nourishment of the soul, Consolation for the heart and Inspiration for the mind”. The visitors could, therefore, legally carry only photographs they had taken in the park or any of the various wood and soapstone carvings readily available at the gate. Is this enough?
To answer this question, one needs to look at these two arts more critically:

• African Handicraft: The most common forms of sculptures in East Africa generally represent human or animal form and in wood or soapstone. Wood carvings are more popular with the artisans because wood is found all over East Africa unlike soapstone which occurs only in Kisii, in western Kenya. In addition, wood being more malleable, offers less challenge to the artisan who is equipped with basic and not very advanced tools. But hard wood, with its tendency to crack more easily than soft wood, attracts more experienced and better equipped artisans. Hardwood also withstands damage by insects and weather changes better. Hardwood carvings, therefore, are not only more durable but should be of higher quality.
With informed choice, therefore, a visitor to the park can acquire wood carvings and soapstone sculptures that are of high quality and very representative of the real thing. These are available in many varieties ,and are unique. Unlike photography, all are three dimensional. Moreover, with the internet, all these products are also available online.
• Photography: In photography a game park visitor can take both still and motion pictures with very portable equipment. But the equipments are relatively expensive and the pictures are not three dimensional.
To a game park visitor, therefore, African Handicraft and photography are like opposite ends of the same thing. Used in combination and done correctly, the two arts work synergistically and should never compete with each other as they provide full and total satisfaction to the game park visitors.
About the author:
Dr Aggrey Marami has special interest in culture and wild animals. He has also spent a lot of time with wild animals. For more amazing facts about wild animals and culture visit :=>
http://www.ammarami.com

When you visit any of the Kenyan National Game Parks you may be excused for thinking that life in the wild is peaceful, calm and gentle. You will often see herds of Zebras grazing peacefully amidst antelopes and wildebeest or elephants and Giraffes strolling gracefully in the Savanna and occasionally lazy looking lions sleeping in the shade. Even at the Maasai Mara National Game Park, the Wildebeests will be swimming across the River Mara while the Crocodiles appear dead or uninterested. Is this the true picture? Never!

Life in the Wilderness is a constant struggle for survival. This basically narrows down to two main challenges, namely eat and avoid being eaten.
It is one thing to find food but quite another to collect and capture it. In the battle for survival, evolution has created a deadly amour of offensive and defensive weapon systems, which, when used in combination, provide strategies that make survival in the wilderness a real nightmare for both predator and prey. This article discusses some of these survival strategies used by animals found in the Kenyan National Parks:

• Stealth, Ambush and Speed: Most predators that are talented with speed lack stamina to sustain it for more than 200 meters or so. They,therefore, must combine it with stealth and ambush to get close to their victims. The Leopard, a member of the cat family, for example, is an expert in this. Hunting alone at night, it stalks its victim to within a close range. Then with a short, fast rash, it attacks. The lions have perfected this strategy by using co-operative hunting. They hunt as a team in a very carefully planned ambush. In this strategy, a lone lioness makes her way unseen to the far side of a herd of Zebra or Wildebeest while the rest of the team hide in the savanna grass. The latter identify a target, usually a young old or weak victim. Gradually they creep towards this chosen victim, their eyes locked on it, up to within 30 meters (100ft) or so. Then suddenly, bolting from cover, they drive the chosen victim towards the lone lioness who promptly busts form hiding to grab the prey. The rest of the pride then offer assistance to finish off their victim. Although a lioness can sprint up to a speed of 60km/hr (37mph), the prey can ran faster, hence the importance of the lone lioness in this strategy. Stealth and surprise are vital weapons in this attack. The Cheeter, on the other hand, capable of accelerating from standing start to 72km/hr (45mph) in 3 seconds and reaching top speed of 97km/hr (60mph) does not need team work and hunts alone. With fewer mouths to share the meal , it can concentrate on smaller, easier to catch animals and still certify its appetite. For the safety of its food, the Cheeter avoids competition with its nocturnal predators by hunting during the day, at dawn or dusk.

• Stamina: That spotted hyenas are notorious scavengers and will steal anything edible is true but they also are efficient hunters, using their enormous stamina. A solitary hyena, for example, can chase a wildebeest for 5km (3miles) at 60km/hr (37mph) and bring the tired victim down single handedly using his powerful jaws and strong teeth. They do not need stealth. Similar strategy is used by African hunting dogs, hunting in relay teams, to exhaust their victims to submission.

• Camouflage and speed for defense: Even with these sophisticated hunting weaponry and strategies, the chance of failure is very high. Just as the predators use camouflage to kill, the hunted use it to avoid drawing attention to themselves. The black stripe on each side of a Thomson’s gazelle and the Zebra’s stripes, break up the outline of individual animals when they are in a herd, making it hard for the predator to pick up a single animal. Besides, speeding predators and prey try constantly to outdo each other in a race that means life or death. To their advantage, Zebras and Gazelles have more stamina than their hunters. Some antelopes have another trick up their sleeve in their behavior called pronking. They jump high into the air and bounce on their four legs repeatedly before dashing off at high speed in a drama meant to convince the predators that they are all fit. This makes it difficult for the predator to select an animal that will be an easy catch.

• Defensive Daggers: The African porcupine fends off its enemies using quills. Each quill is cylindrical, formed of long, tough fibrous hairs, ending in a tip that is as sharp as a needle. Loosely attached to the porcupine’s skin, it measures about 50 cm (20 inches) long. Contrary to the common belief, a porcupine cannot fire its quills through the air but uses them to teach its enemies a painful lesson. When threatened, the porcupine makes its quills stand on end, pointing backwards. It then rattles its quills and stamps its feet to warn the enemy. If this does not work, the porcupine suddenly reverses into its enemy’s skin. Once deeply embedded in the predator’s flesh, barbs on the quills makes them difficult to remove and the animal may suffer fatal infections. As long as it keeps its back to the attacker, therefore, the porcupine has a high chance of escape. The horns of the african rhinocerous are another example of deadly daggers.

• Pretence: The crocodile, floating just below the surface, looks nothing more than a piece of wood. Only its nostrils and eyes remain above the water as it watches and waits near the edge of the river for the animals to come to drink. Then suddenly, the crocodile bolts out of the water so fast that the victim has no time to escape. It immediately drags it under water to drown it.

About the author:
Dr Aggrey Marami has special interest in culture and wild animals. He has also spent a lot of time with wild animals. For more amazing facts about wild animals and culture visit :=>
http://www.ammarami.com

The first time I was introduced to a Zebra was by my artisan uncle. He showed me a wooden sculpture of a Zebra, beautifully painted with black and white stripes. I handled and examined the wood carving as he described it. Later, as I was herding my father’s cattle during one of the school holidays, I saw the real Zebra and recognized it immediately. Yes, the black and white stripes are the trade mark of a Zebra. You will recognize it anytime, anywhere and at any age above three.

There are three species of a Zebra namely, Plains Zebra, Grevy’s Zebra and the Mountain Zebra. All the three species occur in Africa. The Plains Zebra are the most plentiful and can be found virtually anywhere on the Kenyan plains and other parts of East Africa while the Grevy’s Zebra are mostly found in Northern Kenya. In some parts of Kenya, these two species coexist. The Mountain Zebra have their habitat in Southern and Southwestern Africa. Zebras are herbivorous and can grow up to 900 lb (410kg) or more. Being social animal, they move in herds of different sizes.

While the black and white stripe pattern makes the Zebra spectacular, the amazing facts about the stripes go beyond the beauty. For years scientists have argued about why the zebra has distinctive black and white stripes. The theories rotate around Zebra Identity and Camouflage. This article discusses these amazing theories:

• Description: Whether the Zebra stripes are white on a black background, as some people say, or vice versa is academic. I leave it at that.

• Identity: At first glance Zebras in a herd might all look alike, but their stripe patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints are in humans. There are, indeed, scientific methods that can identify individual Zebras by comparing patterns, stripe widths and colour.
Further proof that Zebra stripes are identity marks is provided by their behavior. For example, on rare occasions when unstriped Zebras are born, they tend to be ignored by the rest of the herd, confirming at least, that Zebra stripes are a passport to Zebra society. Also, when a foal is born, the mother keeps all other Zebras away from it for two to three days, until it learns to recognize her by sight, voice and smell.

• Camouflage: The Zebra stripes are thought to act as camouflage in several ways:

• The vertical stripes of a Zebra will resemble tall grass, save for the colour-grass is neither black nor white. A colour blind predator, like a lion, may, therefore, not notice a Zebra standing still in tall grass.
• The Zebra stripe pattern forms a discolouration that breaks up the body outline. A herd of Zebras close together may thus appear like one large animal.
The advantage of all this to the Zebra is best appreciated when you consider that the main predator for the Zebra is the lion, which is colour blind. Now, in attack, the lion must first identify the target, usually a young, old or a weakened Zebra. The Lion’s eyes must then lock on the target Zebra. Without this process, the lion which also heavily relies on stealth and ambush, will theoretically find it difficult to launch an effective attack before it is noticed.

About the author:
Dr Aggrey Marami has special interest in culture and wild animals. He has also spent a lot of time with wild animals. To learn more amazing facts about wild animals and culture visit :=>
http://www.ammarami.com

The elephant is the largest land animal and has no natural enemies.They live in family herds comprising of up to twenty adult females and their young under the leadership of the oldest elephant , the matriarch. The exception to this is the adult males who are solitary nomads attracted to a family group only when one of its mature adults or “cows” is ready to mate. They are found in Africa and Asia.
In this article I will restrict myself to the trunk because of its importance to the elephant.
An elephant can use its trunk to carry a tree, pick up a peanut, have a drink or take a shower.The Elephant trunk is the modified nose and upper lip lined with as many as forty plus individual muscles that allow it to bend and hold like an arm or hand. It is also so sensitive that it can pick up a single blade of grass.
The trunk of an African Elephant has two lips at the end while that of the Asian Elephant has only an upper one.
The Elephant trunk is multifunctional with six main roles, namely:
Sucking: The Elephant trunk sucks up to fourteen litres of water then blows it into its mouth or sprays its body to keep cool. It can also suck in dust and spray its body to reduce the parasite load. .
Feeding: The trunk is used to break off tree branches, pick off leaves and grass and even pluck fruits and put them into its mouth. The Elephant mouth would be useless without the trunk.
As a sense organ, the elephant trunk is its “fingure” as well as its nose. The elephant has a very well developed sense of smell. Raising the trunk up and swaying it from side to side, it can determine the location of friends, enemies, and food sources, much like a periscope. To follow a track, an elephant sweeps its trunk over the ground like a metal detector. It also uses the tip of its trunk to investigate another’s genitalia or mouth for clues about its identity, sex, age, and reproductive status.
Defence: The elephant defends itself by grasping and flinging the enemy using its trunk.
The trunk also plays a major role in social interactions such as play wrestling,caressing, during courtship and even in the mother baby relationship.
Communication: One of the many ways of communication in the rich elephant language is rumbles and trumpets.The former is low frequency infrasound while the later is audible to humans.It is the trunk that produces these sound , much like a wind instrument:

About the author:
Dr Marami has special interest in culture and wild animals. To learn more and to view various wood and stone sculptures visit :=>
http://ammarami.com

Decades of colonization does not appear to have had much effect on the culture of the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania. Over 80% still live the same way they used to before the arrival of the European.

One of the least affected aspect of their lifestyle is the way they dress. Although broadly similar, the details in the dress code bear significant differences in the 3 main age categories, namely the uninitiated boys and girls, the young adults, called Morans if male, and the elders – mature women and men.

All these details in dress code are so accurately portrayed in Maasai sculptures, thanks to the improved sculpturing tools available today, that seeing the sculptures is like meeting the real Maasai.

The Maasai sculptures and other African Carvings can now be viewed at:
Ammarami CraftAfrica
http://ammarami.com

In a continent that generally lags behind in high technology, African handicraft has come in handy as a substitute for photography. The African uses sculptures to preserve his memories. The Akamba and Kisii tribes of Kenya, for example, use wood and stone respectively. They sculpt out statues of humans and animals ,wooden face masks and virtually anything that is of interest to them. Like Photography, the quality of these sculptures has improved with availability of  better tools. They now look like real and are unique. But unlike photography they are all three dimensional.

The African sculpting talent has also helped him/her to make tools for himself/herself. For defense and hunting, he has bows, arrows, spears and shields. For cooking she has clay pots that also keep her drinking water cool. He/she has carved out musical instruments from horns and wood. From sisal her handcraft produced beautiful bags called kiondo (pronounced “chondo” in local dilect). In some African communities these tools are used in ceremonies such as circumcision celebrations.
African handicraft talent is also used for beauty. The Maasai, a nomadic Kenya tribe occupying most of the Kenyan Rift Valley are well known for their love for beauty. They thread beads in colorful patterns to produce beautiful necklaces, bangles, ear and finger rings. This handicraft also combines to  denote profile like the age group the wearer belongs to, or the number of children the lady wearer has, among other things.

About the author:
Dr Aggrey Marami has special interest in culture and wild animals. For more information visit>
http://ammarami.com