Common Gifts for West African Families
Giving a meaningful present to anyone can be challenging, since we often don't know what people already have in abundance at home. If you're presenting a gift to a West African family, no matter if you're West African yourself or not, a few particular items of cultural significance could spark their interest more than just a new DVD player or chia pet.
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Djembe Drum
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Common around campfires across America in the 21st century, the djembe drum originated and still predominates in the West African nations of Mali and Benin, where it started being played in the 12th century. Piped on the upper half in roped webbing or accented in Kente cloth, the djembe drum is played while seated or standing. Most anyone would enjoy this as a practical gift to accompany family festivities, especially if the family's roots date back to West Africa.
Traditional Head Cloths
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Made on horizontal treadle looms in a myriad of colors and patterns, Kente cloth has been used for West African apparel for generations, much of it with symbolic proverbs that can be used to tell stories or spell out popular virtues. In the Ghana tradition, the fabrics are created in strips of about 4 inches, which are then sewn together in different patterns. Though traditionally worn by West Africans as full outfits used in ceremony, the Kente head scarf is a popular gift for women of West African descent that can be worn on any occasion. Other countries in West Africa have unique head scarves, such as Nigeria's gele, so research the gift benefactor's particular country of origin before buying a country-specific gift.
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The Golden Stool of Ghana
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One tradition of Ghana and its surrounding nations of West Africa, formerly known as the Gold Coast for the region's most prized natural resource, is the Golden Stool. An actual guarded artifact, the stool forms the center of the nation's flag and a story of a small golden stool containing the souls of all the Ashanti people of Ghana. Available in jewelry charms and statuary, the stool is a symbol of how, after 300 years of colonial dominance, no king has ever sat on this throne.
Masks, Statues and More
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The West African nations have hundreds of unique symbols and stories, many rooted in the unique histories of 1,000 tribes. Replicas of the different masks worn in prehistoric ceremonies by shamans, elders, warriors or those symbolizing malevolent forces are still made by West African artisans, along with traditional statues and paintings that help you find just the right gift for the West African family you're trying to impress and inspire.
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References
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