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THE CLOTH AND THE MUD #39
Fall, 2009
NEWS FROM FABULOUS AFRICAN FABRICS
A 501 (c) (3) ORGANIZATION
727-946-5322,
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and www.fabulousafricanfabrics.org
Laura Gardner Salazar, editor
Our Mission: to support agencies working with AIDS widows and orphans in Africa
and to educate others about the AIDS crisis in Africa.
COMING EVENTS
October 17, 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.: Artists’ Attic, First United Methodist Church, Dunedin Florida, Main Street and Douglas.
November 13 and 14—Jubilee Market, Spokane, WA
December—Christmas Art Tour, Grand Rapids. Place, date and time to be announced
NEWS FROM AFRICA
As the guest of Fabulous African Fabrics on September 12, Sheba Onchiri spoke to the FAF Board about her work, our work, and how we can connect in the future. A Kenyan and a Ph.D. student at Michigan State University, Sheba has dedicated her life to bettering the lives of women in her home country. When she was a young teacher in Kenya, she and several friends began a group dedicated to raising money for girls to improve their lives. Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya (WOFAK) was one of their models. But without funds an connections they disbanded to find other ways to work. Sheba came to the United States for graduate school. Currently she is writing her dissertation on the lives and education of female students in Kisii, Kenya. The following is a paraphrase of Ms. Onchiri’s informal talk.
I was in Kenya this June for the first time in several years. Life there has become so expensive. The cost of food has risen three times since 2006. Because of the clashes (in 2008 over the Presidential election), and the drought, people are buying the essentials only. I saw cattle that had died from lack of water lying by the road. South western Kenya is in better shape than the rest of the country, because it is not so dry.
I interviewed HIV/AIDS children in schools, many of whom live in their homes without any parents. Some children as young as seven and five take care of younger children. The children have trouble sleeping because they are hungry. All of this affects their studies. A non-governmental organization (NGO) provides lunch for these children. On week days they can walk to the distribution center and stand in line for food.*
As to AIDS, everyone has been affected. In my family we have orphans. The stigma is still there: other children don’t play with the AIDS children and orphans. The issue of poverty goes hand and hand with the disease. The cost for anti-retroviral drugs is born by the government. Those who are tested and found positive enter the program for drugs and the drugs are free. This is overseen by the national AIDS Council. People must go to centers to pick up their medicine. When there are clashes and homelessness, those infected don’t get their medicine.
The talk concluded with questions and discussion. The Board agreed that having first hand knowledge of the situation in Kenya helped us understand the current situation and encouraged us to continue our work with zeal. Ms. Onchari agreed that she would like to continue our discussions, even when she goes back to Kenya, as we can inform eachother.
For the time being she agreed to become a member of FAF and to keep in touch with us. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.
*FAF has supported WOFAK’s weekend food for children.
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The drought mentioned above was highlighted on the front page of the New York Times September 8, 2009. The rains have failed again, turning lush lands in north eastern Kenya into a waste. In some areas it has not rained in years. Plants, cattle and even children are dying. Children are hiking 20 miles for a gallon of water The article noted the disappointment in Kenya’s leaders to deal with corruption, such as a grain scandal. The crisis has raised ethic conflicts between the Turkana people of this region and their neighbors.
These problems are repeated in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Norman Borlaug, the Iowa-born plant scientist and father of the Green Revolution died on Sept. 12. His work has helped many, but there still is much food and much hunger as noted in the New York Times, September 20. Much grain is produced in West, so those in Africa were encouraged to buy the grain on the world market. This ignored the need for peoples to grow their own food stuffs. Corruption and distribution added to the cost of the grain while the peoples of those nations let their knowledge and lands go fallow. Tools needed for success include seeds that match local conditions, fertilizer and better roads. President Obama and other leaders of industrialized nation pledge $20 Billion for agricultural development in poor countries.
THE CLOTH
FAF’s trip to the Michigan State University Museum on July 22 brought the Board and guests a new interest in African textiles. Not only were the textiles of the highest quality I have seen, but the exhibit showed some of Africa’s new textile artists’ ability to combine contemporary techniques and artistic vision with classic design. It inspired Laura to develop some new items for sale. These include using the Vlisco Hollandaise samples FAF was given last year for simple wall hangings and for fantasy items, such as doggy scarves. Other new items include a paper doll and 3 costumes that Laura painted (available for $3.00). The costumes are a school dress, a graduation dress, and a traditional Kenyan costume. Laura drew the doll from a photo of children at the orphanage sent from The Good Samaritan Home sent to FAF. The doll is named Margaret to honor FAF’s first President.
FAF commissioned President Christine Coggins to develop a small card to put into the band of the hats made by Lucy Ramshaw, explaining to others how they may buy hats from Fabulous African Fabrics. The wearer is encouraged to give one out when complimented on the beauty of the hat.
SENT TO AFRICAN THIS QUARTER: $1000
FAF HEROS: Margaret Carlson, Jon Ferguson, Laura Salazar, Schuler Books and Music, Paul and Hilary Stratford, Mary Voss and June Williams.
Many thanks to Betsy Knox who arranged a very special 10th anniversary celebration in East Lansing, Michigan.
The summer started out well for FAF at the Fulton Street Artisan’s Market in Grand Rapids, MI. In its fourth year, the market is growing with excellent attendance and often a full house of 40 to 50 venders. Congratulations to organizers and the sellers who have remained true to the market as it has grown in these difficult times. It is becoming a Grand Rapids institution, and FAF has been in at the beginning.
A GOOD READ
Several journals have noted a growing emphasis on women and women and girl’s rights worldwide. Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WoDunn essay “Why Women’s Rights are the Cause of Our Time” which appeared in the New York Times Magazine, August 23, 2009. The entire magazine looks at the status of women in the world, especially in the developing world.
ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS
As a part of FAF’s tenth year celebration, Board of FAF made important connections with the African Studies Center at Michigan State University. The African Studies Center is the largest in the country with 90 professors from many departments teaching courses under the ASC’s wing. We believe that this connection will help to keep us up to date on issues on that continent, and therefore make our work more timely and efficient. In addition to introducing us to Sheba Onchiri and high level art work in African fabrics, we expect that we will participate in some of the public activities sponsored by MSU.—lectures, discussions, exhibits, tours.
You, too can be on the front line of African issues by subscribing to the weekly bulletin sent out by the Center. Contact MSU at
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. You may want to participate in some of the events featured in the bulletin. The issue from August 8th offered the following opportunities: a brown bag lunch—“New Perspectives in Islam in Senegal;” a conference on Territorial Origins of African Civil Conflicts at Ohio State University; Michigan State University’s conference on Africanist Graduate Students; a conference Oct 19-21 in Chicago, “Connecting the Dots between Africa and the World. Course announcements included Women, Gender and Sexuality in Africa; African American an African Studies III; African Religions; South African Liberation Movements.
MEMBERSHIP
The membership fees for FAF go to our organizational expenses: office supplies, postage, and materials to make items for sale. Your dollars prevent
worry about the small stuff so FAF can concentrate on our mission: to improve the lives of children and widows of AIDS in Kenya.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP--$20.00, FAMILY MEMBERSHIP--$30.00
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FABULOUS AFRICAN FABRICS, 1158 KENSINGTON ST. NW, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49534
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