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1 of 253523 objects
Jibu Mangwengwe (b. 1942)
Paradise 1980-85
Wood | RCIN 72536
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A shallow oval wooden carving pointed at both ends, with two roundels side by side depicting animals and tribal figures in a landscape, including dogs, deer, tortoise, hare, birds, elephants and spiders. The border has geometric and diagonal reeding. With a framed poem. It depicts the creation story for the Chewa people. The Chewa believe that men, women, animals and all living things were created by God (Chiuta, Chauta) at Kapirintiwa, a mountain on the boundary between central Malawi and western Mozambique, during a thunderstorm. As a result of the storm, the rains softened the hard surface, but as it hardened again, their footprints remained engraved in the actual rock. The rain coming down and the animals bursting into life can be seen in the carving. The Chewa are the largest ethnic group in Malawi.
Provenance
Presented to Queen Elizabeth II by President Hastings Banda of Malawi during his State Visit to the United Kingdom, 16–19 April 1985.
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Creator(s)
(place of production)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Wood
Place of Production
Malawi