More African Art from La Ba! Street Festival

June 9 is a public holiday when Uganda honors its 1979 Liberation Heros who fought to overthrow the regime of Idi Amin.  I went to the 6th La Ba! Street Arts Festival whose byline is Liberation.Arts.Participation.  There was a wonderful selection of African arts and crafts there so I splurged  (well, if you count about $90 total as splurging.)

Here are my new art acquisitions:

I loved this batik by E. Namuddu with the women and their babies tied to their backs, and also the fruit - you can see yellow bananas and green matoke at the bottom as well as mangos and pineapples.

This batik, also by E. Namuddu, has a uniquely Ugandan theme - 85% of Ugandans are Christians and they are quite devout, saying grace before meals and attending church regularly - so an African version of the Last Supper seems very appropriate.  I think Judas is the disciple who has turned away - nice symbolism!

I could not resist this cute little hippo - not sure if it's soapstone or ceramic.

 There were many baskets to choose from but this was one of the most beautiful designs

 This is called a Noah's Ark and can be used for serving nibbles (roasted peanuts or popcorn)

I wanted to buy a traditional Kitenge (shawl) and when I saw this one I just had to have it! (Apologies to all my dear Republican friends back home but soon I may be able to wear my true colors...) Not surprisingly East Africans love President Obama, and a local joke goes that OBAMA stands for Original Black African Managing America.  I've seen people here wearing jeans and other garments with Obama's picture proudly displayed so am wondering if there's enough fabric here (it's a double length, two Obamas) for me to have it made up into a traditional Ugandan dress with peaked shoulders.

Strictly speaking I didn't get these beads, which are made of long colored paper triangles rolled around a pin, at the Art Festival, although there were many similar beads there.  I bought them yesterday at the art and craft stall at the clinic at the Infectious Disease Institute where the friends learn skills and entrepreneurship to make and sell their art.