Echoes of Ancestry support African cultural Preservation

MY CAMPAIGN STORY

Dear supporters

Support Maat African Art: Preserving and Celebrating African Heritage

Dear Friends and Supporters,

After watching the documentary "Why Don’t Black People Buy African Art," I felt a profound inspiration to address this pressing issue. As a passionate collector with a substantial collection of African arts, I aim to start local and national exhibitions that will cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of African tribal and ancestral art. This initiative seeks to inspire engagement, ownership, and the preservation of our invaluable cultural heritage.

My vision encompasses a world where the ancestral arts of Africa are not only actively celebrated and preserved but also desired and passed down through generations. By fostering a stronger sense of identity and community, we can ensure that African art remains an integral part of our cultural fabric.

Our Mission:

Maat African Art is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of the cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance of African tribal and ancestral art. Our goal is to raise awareness and promote the true value of African art beyond financial measures. We seek your support in our mission to educate our community about the importance of African art.

Why This Matters:

African art has historically been a source of inspiration for many renowned artists, including Picasso, Braque, Derain, Vlaminck, and Matisse. These artists saw African sculptures as a liberating force, allowing them to break free from traditional artistic forms and explore new avenues of creativity. This perspective is highlighted in Pierre Meauze's book "African Art Sculpture."

However, Western culture has conditioned our perception of African art, often valuing it more for its financial worth than its cultural significance. We aim to challenge this perception and explore whether an aesthetic re-education is needed to truly understand and appreciate African tribal and ancestral art.

Our Impact:

For over 14 years, Maat African Art has been a proud part of the vibrant Tooting Market community, sharing the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Africa with people from all walks of life. We have become a sanctuary of art and history, beloved by many.

Our Challenge:

Recently, we received notice from our landlord of a significant rent increase — our second this year — that more than doubles our current costs. This increase is substantially higher than those received by other traders within the market, many of whom have seen adjustments of only 10 – 45%. Maat African Art faces a 75% increase in rent. This extraordinary rise in overhead challenges our mission to provide accessible African tribal art and threatens our ability to operate within the beloved Tooting community.

Why Your Support Matters:

Your support will help us continue our mission to educate and bring awareness about African art and ancestral knowledge to our community. With your assistance, we can further our outreach and impact, bringing attention to the need for change in how African art is perceived and handled both locally and globally.

Examples of African Art's Value:

• Luba female figure attributed to the Warua Master, sold in Christie's in 2015 for $9 million.

• Fang Ngil Mask, Gabon, sold for $970,000.

• Senufo Figure, Ivory Coast, sold in Sotheby's, New York on 11/11/2013 for $12,037,000.

• Luba Figure for a Bowstand, DRC, sold in Christie's London on 08/07/2015 for $9,425,304.

• Fang Head, Gabon, sold in Christie's Paris on 23/06/2021 for $9,175,654.

• Luba Mask, DRC, sold in Christie's Paris on 23/06/2021 for $8,628,638.

• Fang Mask, Gabon, sold in E. Rive Gauche Paris on 17/06/2006 for $7,257,902.

• Luba stool, DRC, sold in Sotheby's Paris on 30/11/2010 for $7,091,974.

• Kota Reliquary Figure, Gabon, sold in Christie's Paris on 23/06/2015 for $6,123,990.

• Baule Double-mask, Ivory Coast, sold in Sotheby's Paris on 24/06/2015 for $6,048,175.

• Fang Mebea Figure, Cameroon, sold in Sotheby's Paris on 18/06/2014 for $5,906,254.

• Baule Mask, Ivory Coast, sold in Sotheby's Paris on 18/06/2019 for $5,284,958.

Join Us:

We believe that with your assistance, we can further our outreach and impact, bringing attention to the need for change in how African art is perceived and handled both locally and globally. Please support our GoFundMe campaign to help us continue our mission and keep Maat African Art thriving in London

Thank you for your generosity and support.

Sincerely,

Ernest Nelson-Homiah Founder, Maat African Art.