hope decor

Seated with folded hands, an abstract person folds hands in prayer. Ghana's Francis Agbete explores the concept of spirituality with this elegant sculpture. He works in finely polished in African sese wood.

"If camels can survive under tough desert conditions, then we humans should not lose hope during hard times," encourages Ghanaian artisan Francis Agbete. He carves the ofram wood bookends by hand with admirable mastery.

Dogon boards were traditionally placed on doors, and incorporated animal and human symbols to protect the entrance to the home. The Dogon are an ethnic group living in the central plateau region of Mali, in Western Africa. Artisan Ayoma Alhassan presents his interpretation of a Dogon board, incorporating male figures that depict how strong the men are in working to take care of their women, and lizard motifs that symbolize the hope that the Dogon traditions will continue. The artisan names his original relief panel Brisah, which means "rest" in the Bulsa tongue. The panel's raised motifs are formed from hardened calabash.

"This is an imaginative composition that shows how close some of our communities are. This batik composition shows the unity of people coming together after war," Samuel Ashong explains. He is referring to refugees who have been displaced from their villages in times of war, and built their homes close to each other in new locations for protection. Ashong details people coming together forming a new community, the close-knit rooftops a symbol of their hope for peace and safety. Includes a card paper mat board.

With a face like the full moon, this beautiful mask depicts an Akuaba, an Akan word for the child of Akua, a girl born on Wednesday. The term also signifies a doll. Walter Kuma carves the symmetrical features, bright eyes and full lips. "I want people to believe in whatever they do and hope for success in the future," he says.

The mask is displayed on an iron stand.

There is a goddess living in every African woman, and Ghana's Canis Dacosta Edwards portrays this spirit in this captivating wall art. The artisan works with diverse elements—from calabash gourds and glass beads to wood—to create this lovely scene of a woman daydreaming. The lady, set on a glass base, is adorned with jewelry and gorgeous garments whose orange hues represent hope.

Dogon boards were traditionally placed on doors, and incorporated animal and human symbols to protect the entrance to the home. The Dogon are an ethnic group living in the central plateau region of Mali, in Western Africa. Artisan Ayoma Alhassan presents his interpretation of a Dogon board, incorporating male figures that depict how strong the men are in working to take care of their women, female figures representing the carriers of the next generation, and lizard motifs that symbolize the hope that the Dogon traditions will continue. The artisan names his original relief panel 'Kandem', after the village in which he grew up. The panel's raised motifs are formed from hardened calabash.