African Masks

In Africa masks can be traced back to well past Paleolithic times. These art objects were, and are still, made of various materials including leather, metal, fabric and various types of wood. African masks are considered amongst the finest creations in the art world and are highly sought after by art collectors. Many of the pieces can be viewed in museums and art galleries in many parts of the world. Masking ceremonies in Africa have great cultural and traditional significance. Latest developments and understanding of Aesthetic principles, religious and ceremonial values, have brought about a greater insight into the ideas and moral values that African artists express in their art. During celebrations, initiations, crop harvesting, war preparation, peace and trouble times, African masks are worn by a chosen or initiated dancer. It can be worn in three different ways: vertically covering the face: as helmets, encasing the entire head, and as crest, resting upon the head, which was commonly covered by material as part of the disguise. African masks often represent a spirit and it is strongly believed that the spirit of the ancestors possesses the wearer.

Ritual ceremonies generally depict deities, spirits of ancestors, mythological beings, good and or evil, the dead, animal spirits, and other beings believed to have power over humanity. Masks of human ancestors or totem ancestors (beings or animals to which a clan or family traces its ancestry) are often objects of family pride; when they are regarded as the dwelling of the spirit they represent, the masks may be honored with ceremonies and gifts. During the mask ceremony the dancer goes into deep trance, and during this state of mind he  "communicates" with his ancestors. A wise man or translator sometimes accompanies the wearer of the mask during the ritual. The dancer brings forth messages of wisdom from his ancestors. Often the messages are grunted utterances and the translator will accurately decipher the meaning of the message. Rituals and ceremonies are always accompanied with song, dance and music, played with traditional African musical instruments.

For thousands of years, rituals and ceremonies were and to a lesser extent are still an integral part of African life. The gradual, effects of parceled out territories to Colonial governments, and the ensuing damage to traditional economies followed by the displacement of huge numbers of people, by colonialism, resulted in economies and food production systems being wrecked. In general the vast number of people have lost some of its tribal identity and culture, hence masking ceremonies are no longer common place in Africa. –Source: African Masks History and Meaning (www.rebirth.co.za).

Nigerian and Ghanian String Art (aka Threadwork)

String Art or Threadwork is an art creation that originated and remains primarily in Nigeria and Ghana. It utilizes silk thread, artistic capabilities, glue and coloring to create artwork that has vibrant colors and local content; it's a combination of art and craftsmanship. It tends to be produced by a small number of Nigerian and Ghanaian artists who have learned the craft from the few who have passed this knowledge on before them. 

Sketching a figure onto canvas creates string art. Figures are then traced over to bring the figure out and then the canvas is then glued multiple times. The process to complete the artwork begins by hand weaving the details toward the right hand side, one after the other. Details and background are woven into the canvas with colored silk thread. This part of the procedure requires that color consistency be maintained throughout. Those who produce string art require a clear understanding of the use of materials.  Colors are created from plants, which are cooked for days over a very hot fire. The colors produced are used to dye the silk thread that makes up the artwork.

String Art can be single strand or double strand. Single strand takes longer and is much more intricate than double strand and has a much more silky look and feel. However, both are unique in their creation. String Art can take as long as three to four weeks to create. The experience of the craftsman determines the quality and time to create these masterpieces. To learn more about String Art, visit www.StringArtWork.com.

Shea Butter

Daily skin moisturizer (face and body) * Relieves dry skin and scalp while relieving itchiness due to dryness * Relieves skin rash- including diaper rash * Helps with peeling skin after tanning * Removes blemishes and wrinkles * Treats sunburn * Can be used as a shaving cream to reduce razor irritation and razor bumps * Heals small skin wounds * Soften tough skin on feet (especially heels) * Prevents stretch marks during pregnancy * Heals minor burns * Treats Eczema * Provides Sun and wind protection * Evens the skin tone * Reduces blemishes and scarring * Eliminates scalp irritation from dryness or chemical processing * Reduces acne (especially in combination with African Black Soap) * Absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue * Helps restore elasticity to skin * Restores luster to hair

How does Shea Butter benefit my skin?

Shea Butter nourishes the skin with Vitamins A, E and F.  Vitamins A and E help maintain the skin and keep it clear and healthy. They are particularly helpful for sun-damaged skin and help prevent premature wrinkles and facial lines.  Vitamin F acts as a skin protector and rejuvenator; it soothes and softens rough, dry or chapped skin.  Shea Butter easily penetrates the skin allowing it to breathe without clogging pores.  It is also anti-inflammatory, making it useful in treating rheumatism. 

How does Shea Butter benefit my hair?

Shea Butter provides moisture to dry or damaged hair by repairing and protecting it against weather damage, dryness and brittleness.  It also absorbs quickly and completely into the scalp to rehydrate it without clogging pores.  It is particularly beneficial for hair that’s been processed and heat-treated.

Black Soap

What is Black Soap?

African traditional black soap is one of the most beneficial yet unheard of soaps you will ever find. It is made from dried plantain skins, palm leaves, cocoa pod powder and kernel oil for an all-natural cleansing process. Plantain skins are largely what make this soap so effective; it is a natural source of vitamins A, E and Iron.

African black soap has an organic shape with a soft delicate texture and a natural earthly smell. It is not oily and can be used on hands, face, body and hair.

What are the benefits of black soap?

Helps deep clean the skin * Works on most skin types including rough, dry or sensitive skin * Helps clear skin bumps and spots * Helps relieve acne, oily skin and other skin problems * Great for removing makeup * Works against premature facial lines and wrinkles * Can be lathered and used as a shampoo * Helps reveal radiant, fresh and healthy skin.

 Scented and Essential Oils

What are Scented and Essential Oils?

Scented oil(s), also known as aroma oils, aromatic oils, or fragrance oils, are blended synthetic aroma compounds or natural essential oils that are diluted with a carrier like propylene glycol, vegetable oil, or mineral oil. Scented oils are used in perfumery, cosmetics and aromatherapy.

An essential oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. It is "essential" in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence of the plant. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove.

What Are the Benefits of Essential Oils?

They have a light-to-medium, and pleasant, fragrance * Are made of earth-grown natural ingredients * Will not dehydrate the skin like commercial perfumes or colognes * Are not harmful to the environment * Moisturizes the skin * Are aromatically therapeutic

What are the benefits of using Black Soap, Shea Butter AND Essential Oils in my daily skin and hair care regiment?

The benefits are healthier, younger, and more vibrant looking skin and hair with a pleasant fragrance; free of the skin and hair-aging chemicals found in most commercial skin, hair and perfume products.

What are the benefits of buying my Black Soap, Shea Butter and Essential Oils at Exotique?

Both our Black Soap and Shea Butter are imported at low cost directly from Ghana in West Africa; no middleman or importing company is involved with distribution. The result is cost savings that we pass on to our customers. Each bar of Black Soap and each tub of Shea Butter are individually packaged by hand insuring its long lasting freshness. Our Essential Oils, also imported from Africa at low cost, are 100% pure oil with no water added.

And since these are our best selling products, they go fast which means we replenish them frequently. This will insure that when you buy Black Soap, Shea Butter and Scented Oils from us, you buy the very best on the market.

To learn more about our Black Soap and sample our Shea Butter and Scented Oils, stop by Exotique, Gifts and Fabrics of Durham at 319 West Main Street, Durham, NC 27701.  We will be glad to provide you with additional information too (ask about our limited supply of concentrated Essential Oils - we keep them in the back).

African Fabrics

The earliest surviving sub-Saharan African textiles are cloth fragments and parchment fragments that date to the ninth century BC from sites at Igbo Ukwu of the Igbo people of Nigeria. Some twelfth century cloth fragments date from the Tellem caves in Mali. Surviving thirteenth century samples originate from Benin City in Nigeria. African textiles are a part of African cultural heritage that came to America along with the slave trade. As many slaves were skilled in the weaving, this skill was used as another form of income for the slave owner.

In most of Africa, the weavers were men while the women spun the thread. Weavers in many of the countries were part of a caste-like group and sometimes slaves to noble families. In Yoruba, compounds were used where master weavers would teach all the boys weaving and all the girls would learn to spin and dye the yarn.

Some examples of African textiles are:

• Aso oke fabric - woven by Yoruba people
• Adire - tie-dye produced by Yoruba people
• Kente cloth - woven by Ashanti and Ewe people
• Barkcloth - produced by the Buganda tribe
• Mudcloth- produced by the Bambara tribe
• Kitenge - produced in Kenya and other regions of East Africa

Weaving has many spiritual and mythical meaning behind it. One is that from the Dogons who believe that each stage of spinning and weaving thread is a symbolic analogy to human reproduction and resurrection. With this, they believe that the processes of spinning and weaving could only be done in daylight hours. To work at night would be to weave silence and darkness into the cloth. The color of the cloth can also have some spiritual meaning. In one tribe a white cloth used by healing women was thought to be linked to water spirits. Although there are many meanings to the designs on the cloth very few are directly represented on the cloth itself.

Textiles were also used as a form of identity with each tribe having their own unique patterns, which also made it easy to spot outsiders. Many different types of patterns were formed in places that specialized in weaving. Kings would request several types of cloth to show their prestige and importance. Kings would even compare themselves by how many robes they had and what they were made out of. Weaving and the textiles were and still are very important to the African culture. The textiles included both men and women and the cloth they made was unique to their tribe through the patterns and spiritual meanings behind them. --Source: Wikipedia