What Is An African Walking Cane?
African walking canes are elaborately carved wooden sticks. Often created by master craftsmen, they were originally created for use as walking aids and protection against animals in the bush. Chiefs used canes as symbols of power.
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African Cane Designs
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Giraffe A detailed depiction of an animal or animal head, such as a giraffe, lion or elephant, is often carved into the top of the cane. Another favorite design is a stylized African warrior.
Countries of Origin
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Map of Africa African walking canes are made in many countries all over the continent, including Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ghana.
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Types of Wood
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Different trees are used for canes, depending on the region. Canes from Ghana are sometimes made of a light wood called sese, while those from Kenya often use mvuli wood.
AFrican Walking Canes Today
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Today, African walking canes are highly valued as decorative art objects. When fitted with a rubber tip, some canes are also functional walking sticks.
Considerations
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Some canes are purely decorative and should not be used by those who need a cane as a walking aid.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Cliff Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of tinyfroglet Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Gabriel Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Chubby Chandru
