Art & Culture

African Cultural Knowledge

Nearly 800 Years Later, the Fires of the Benin Bronze Casters Still Blaze

For bronze caster, Alex Agbonmwenre, the return of the Benin Bronzes is about far more than the return of looted artefacts. It is also a reminder that the craft, which found a patron in Benin 800 years ago, has continued through an unbroken lineage of master craftsmen, ever since. And those master craftsmen can be found today, in Igun Street, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

by bird - African Stories Agency
Fashion & Beauty

“Dead White Man’s Clothes”: The Language of Second-hand Clothes in Africa

Second-hand clothes carry both the individual and collective identity of their origin, that is, the fashion, style, and aesthetics. As discarded and unwanted items, second-hand clothes mediate notions of dignity and well-being. As imported commodities, second-hand clothes reference the nature of trade relations between Africa and the West, and how such relations influence local production.

by Richard Oduor Oduku