African Village

I have been wanted to see African Village for a few years now.  This was definitely a high spot for me.  Now that I have been there...how can I not go back next year!!  There were ~80 tents filled with all sorts of beads, masks, statues, mudcloth, baskets, and more.  It was almost too much to take in and in retrospect I should have gone back for a second look.

My pictures aren't great.  Sometimes I can get good pics with the iPhone...not so much on this day. But this gives you an idea of what it was like.

There were tons of beads and the prices were amazing.  Too bad I already have quite a few.  I wasn't really in the market for beads. 

Beaded chairs

Close up of a statue. It was probably 6 feet tall.

Another really large statue

I have been looking for bronze leopards for a while. Although a large one (or two) like this wasn't in the budget...this year.  I did get a small one.  They are from Nigeria.

The center statue is a power figure.  It is used to contain and control a spiritual force.  The box in the stomach will be packed with medicines in resin to attract the spirit. A nail or blade is driven in the figure each time the spirit is invoked.  

Next up...fossils and geodes.