When I joined the Peace Corps, I wanted to go to Latin America and learn
Spanish. So, naturally, they sent
me to English-speaking Africa instead. Like most everyone else, I had
to look Liberia up on a map to find out just where it was located. Little
did I know at the time just how much I would fall in love with Africa.
I lived there for six years in Liberia, Morocco and Zambia and
traveled all over to neighboring countries.
Hands down, no competition, it is my favorite place on earth.
traditional clothing, especially on their
heads. Fortunately, there is still a lot of that to see (and
photograph) in Africa.
The Maasai are easy to spot when you travel in Kenya and Tanzania.
Despite an ever encroaching modern world, many of the Maasai have
held on to their traditional ways.
Not only are they unusually tall and graceful, they almost always
wear deep red clothing.
Frequently their normal attire includes a red blanket draped across their
shoulders.
Men and women alike wear a lot of jewelry.
I was particularly fascinated with what that heavy jewelry did to
their earlobes. And, I found it very
interesting that the women shaved their heads instead of the men.
The Maasai people are a nomadic people.
With a lifestyle in harmony with their environment, they herd cattle.
The Maasai have maintained their rich culture in the face of colonialism,
war, independence and politics.
However, their lifestyle is under threat from global warming, dried up
rivers, land grabbing and modernization.
Obviously, this grandmother has a lot to contemplate.
Usually, when I draw a portrait, after the face is completed the rest of the
drawing is so easy. However,
that wasn't the case with Maasai women.
They had such beautiful beadwork with everything they wore.
It took a long time to add that detail to the portrait.
Continue on to Africa Image 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 or back to the Portraits Home Page.