African Galleria  : Astop over  to Tanzania northern Circuit. 

The African Galleria, which combines a workshop and a contemporary art gallery, is devoted to promoting African art and seeks exposure through the daily influx of tourists and travelers into Tanzania. African Galleria makes investments in creativity and innovation and links artists with experts and other artists to produce distinctive and competitive works for the fine art market. As you travel from or to the well-known Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Serengeti National Park, you will pass by the workshops and the gallery in the Manyara, Kibaoni Area. When exploring the Northern Tanzanian safari circuit, it’s the perfect place to stop for shopping souvenirs.

AFRICAN GALLERIA: HOME OF AFRICAN PRECIOUS GEMSTONES

You can find a variety of great, rare, and precious gemstones that are ethically sourced from the African continent by visiting this gallery and workshop. From gemstones like diamonds, sapphires, garnets, tourmalines, tsavorite, and others. Do you desire a unique ring, pendant, necklace, bracelet, or pair of mixed-metal bangles? This includes birthstones for her or him, chakra jewelry, and engagement and wedding rings. After exploring African gemstones and precious metals for the past ten years, the African Galleria team of lapidaries and jewelers are now confident enough to create and customize the best pieces for you.

A TALE OF A STONE: THE TANZANITE

A precious stone with Tanzania as its namesake can only be found in Mererani, a village at the base of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, where it was discovered for the first time in 1967. Exotic tanzanite is a gem all on its own, balanced between luscious blue, vibrant violet, and rich purple. In order to make gems more durable, change their color, or create stunning faceted pieces out of them, it must go through a number of processes.

African Galleria, which has over 20 years of experience in the jewelry and precious metals industries, is a specialist retailer of genuine faceted Tanzanite jewelry in Tanzania and a leader in the creation of state-of-the-art Tanzanite jewelry. You can always personalize and configure your gemstone or jewelry by getting in touch with the best lapidaries and jewelers, whether you visit in person in Tanzania or online.

THE MAKONDES & THE BLACKWOOD: EBONY

The sculptors in this tale are mystic artists from southeast Tanzania. A tribe known for its mastery of wood carving and capacity to convey narrative through their work. The expression in Makonde’s sculptures is very strong. Utilizing the art of symmetrical, warped, or ridiculous features to symbolize their allies and enemies. Ujamaa and Shetani, which stand for the family tree and the devil’s art, are two famous sculptures. The so-called ebony or African Blackwood, the hardest wood in African history, is capable of being carved thanks to the Makonde people.

The African Galleria provide a platform (workshop) at African Galleria for their talents, and there are a number of native Makonde people who are eager to share their experiences and exhibit their mastery of the Ebony (Blackwood) medium.

BENIN BRONZES: GET TO KNOW THEM

Brass and bronze alloys were used to decorate cast plaques, memorial heads, animal and human figures, royal regalia, and ornaments for the wearer. These are artifacts from the West African Kingdom of Benin, which dates from the 13th to the 16th centuries and is sometimes referred to as “Benin’s Golden Age” during the reign of the Oba King. Numerous pieces were created especially for the ancestral altars of former obas and queen mothers, and they are still regarded as lucky, powerful, protective, and loving symbols. These items were used by the Benin people to pay tribute to their ancestors and to confirm the appointment of a new Oba. You can find these historical artifacts at the African Galleria because they have been gathered based on their rarity and symbolic significance. You will be purchasing genuine examples of these antiques, though some have had their value added to lovely furnishings, stands, and other items used in daily life.

AFRICAN MASKS: THE ART OF FESTIMA

Did you know? The Dan Masks are revered items. They serve as a means of both protection and spirit-world communication. The most significant and uncommon African masks, especially those from West and Central Africa, are displayed in the African Galleria.

 Masks from the Baule tribe, also referred to as “kple kple” masks, are worn during Goli rituals and festivals. The horns stand in for the great power an animal represents, and the spherical face represents the sun’s life-giving energy. Kota masks, which are made of wood and have brass or copper sheets covering them to increase their power; Bwa masks, which have a crescent moon at one end and a circular face at the other; Goma masks (distinguished by their domed heads, which occasionally have feathers perched atop them); Animal and human features are combined in one design on Senufo masks. As their masks and sculptures are thought to have the ability to facilitate communication between the living and their deceased ancestors, Senufo artists enjoy a high status in their society. Only Punu men should carve Punu masks because they represent the idealized beauty of Punu women. They frequently have eyes that exhibit oriental characteristics, as well as the traditional high-domed hairstyle and diamond-shaped scarification marks on their forehead. Islamic holidays, especially the conclusion of Ramadan, are celebrated with ligbi masks. These mask-clad dancers are renowned for their gracefully coordinated movements as they dance in pairs. The typical Ligbi mask has an extended face that is bordered on either side by wings. Kwele masks for defense against the ‘beete’ ritual’s witchcraft power. The ‘beete’ is a ritual in which the spirits, who are represented by ‘ekuk’ masks, purify the participants. Ekuk refers to the “children of the beetle” and the “spirits of the forest.”

Other masks from Central Africa, such as the Lwalwa Mask, also known as the “mvondo” mask, worn by men, are significant in their celebrations, especially the covert ceremonies of the “bangongo” society, which were in charge of initiating young men into adulthood. The people of the Lulua River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the creators of the Lulua Mask, formerly known as the Bena Lulua.

ACTIVITIES AT THE AFRICAN GALLERIA

Visit for a complimentary Tanzanite tour.

When you buy a Tanzanite in the very center of Tanzania, you can be sure that you are getting high-quality jewelry. But have you ever considered the precise mining process for these priceless stones? In order for you to experience the life cycle of each Tanzanite, there is a temporary mine on the grounds of the African Galleria. Additionally, there is a “peek-window” where you can see jewelers at work creating your upcoming one-of-a-kind jewelry piece. Join the Tanzanite Tour offered by African Galleria to add some glimmer to your life.

Visit for an exciting painting activity: Tinga-Tinga and the Colors of Life.

There are a few images that come to mind when people hear the word “Africa”: going on an African safari; learning about the distinctive African culture; and, perhaps most significantly, observing the amazing talent and passion displayed in their artistic creations. At African Galleria, they value the arts and are pleased to collaborate with some of Tanzania’s top creatives. By giving the purchaser the opportunity to shake hands with the artists themselves, they have forged a figurative bridge between the client and the creator.

Explore Makonde artifacts and their ability to tell stories through Blackwood or ebony.

One of the few nations in the world that produces ebony goods in an ethical manner is Tanzania. We advise taking the Ebony Tour if you want to learn more and see for yourself. You can witness the astounding transformations that these artists produce there. Watch them in action as they transform tree stumps that, at first glance, appear to be ordinary into breathtaking works of art. Take a look; after all, seeing is believing!

CONCLUSION

You can find a variety of great, rare, and precious gemstones that are ethically sourced from the African continent by visiting this gallery and workshop. From gemstones like diamonds, sapphires, garnets, tourmalines, tsavorite, and others. Do you desire a unique ring, pendant, necklace, bracelet, or pair of mixed-metal bangles? If so, this is the best place to visit on your way back home from Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti safari.