sankofa sampler: an african wedding

{ strength and humility cup -- west african series #5 by dovecotedesign }

the african symbol dwennimmen above is based on the curve of rams horns, and like so many symbols represents a graceful balance of two opposing ideas. strength and humility -- those and a sense of humor, and you've got your wedding planning mantra. this artist's "love never loses its way home" cup is my favorite of the series, was sold in 2008 -- perhaps she will make it again for you?

one of the many reasons blogging has been so sporadic is that in addition to travel and my normal jobs (magazine, jewelry, blog) i have been working on a big freelance project this summer, incredibly challenging and rewarding (and stretching into september!), with the new york african burial ground project reports.

the earliest colonial african american burial ground was discovered in 1991 during excavations for a building in lower manhattan; from the late 1600s to 1790, upwards of 15,000 people were buried there, and then the area was filled in and covered over during the next two centuries as NYC grew up around it. i simply can't do the project justice here, but encourage anyone interested in an amazing and moving piece of our american story to visit the project site, a lovely quick online overview, or the beautiful memorial at 290 broadway.

one symbol from the history report resonates particularly -- at first glance it resembles a heart with spirals, and can also be a bird looking toward its tail: the lovely sankofa, in both its forms. "go back and get it": go back to the past to retrieve what is good, so you can learn and take it to build a future.







{each photo links to its shop}