The Handicraft Center |
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| The Handicraft Center promotes the traditional arts and culture of Dschang and its surrounding communities. The Center was founded in 2000 by Fonwouo, a talented and articulate basket maker, artist, and teacher. The center is located in front of the Dschang Urban Council (Hotel de Ville). Although currently consisting of a small shop, Fonwouo hopes that the center will grow. He also hopes that basketmakers and people interested in the crafts of Western Cameroon will contact him, as he is quite isolated from the rest of the world and is very interested in exchanging ideas and selling Cameroonian arts and crafts. Fonwouo is also willing to travel and teach basketmaking to anyone who will sponsor him. Besides English and French, he also speaks Bahouan, his native language, and 8 other Cameroonian languages. | ||
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Basket bottom |
Basket top |
Finished raphia baskets by Fonwou |
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| Beadworking is a traditional local craft. Fonwouo encourages the beaders by selling their work at the center. Almost any surface can be beaded, including wooden bracelets, Fonwouo's baskets and gourds! | |||
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Here are a few of the hand made items for sale at the Handicraft Center:
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Dyed and hand woven raphia bags |
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Bracelets and letter openers |
Carved and shaped horn |
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Lamps |
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For more information about the Handicraft Center, or to place an order (orders must be paid for in advance with Western Union), please contact Fonwouo (in English or French) at: The Handicraft Center email: Fonwouo |
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For more about raphia baskets, see "Raphia Palm Basketmaking in Western Cameroon, Africa," in SHUTTLE, SPINDLE, & DYEPOT, Winter 2003/2004, 21-24.
Links:
African
Arts/Handicraft and Environmental Management Institute (AFHEMI)
Art-Batik
of Adehoumi Sikirou Shola
Bark
Pictures of Claude Ngaha
Gîtes
Ruraux de lOuest
Metal
Casting in Foumban
Wood Carving in Foumban
Abdou Mfopa
Pottery
of Western Cameroon
Tapestry Crochet in
Cameroon
Cameroonian Basket Maker, Fokam
Goufo Buhler
Cameroonian Author, Mih
John Fung
Cameroonian Painter, Hilarion
Wirdzeka Faison
Nigerian Painter, Elcarver
Rotimi Agbola
Tapestry Crochet Home PageCane
baskets of Mexico
Reed baskets of Mexico
Tapestry crochet basket pattern
Carol Ventura's
Home Page
Web page, most photographs, and text by Carol Ventura.