MAURITANIA: Women revive the ancient art of making rare powder glass beads, known as Kiffa beads
Record ID:
613032
MAURITANIA: Women revive the ancient art of making rare powder glass beads, known as Kiffa beads
- Title: MAURITANIA: Women revive the ancient art of making rare powder glass beads, known as Kiffa beads
- Date: 4th May 2010
- Summary: KIFFA, MAURITANIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) WOMEN MAKING KIFFA BEADS CLOSEUP OF GLASS BEING CRUSHED INTO POWDER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AGHEYLA MINT EYDE, KIFFA BEAD MAKER, SAYING: "I begin by breaking one or two glasses with this stone and it takes a whole day. In the evening, I roll out 20 balls from the broken glass and I leave them out to dry until the next day. I then draw different symbols on them and put them in a hot stove for two hours before removing them." WATER BEING DRIPPED ONTO GRAINS OF CRUSHED GLASS TO MAKE A PASTE VARIOUS OF GLASS CRUSHING COLOURED GLASS BEING CRUSHED TO PREPARE PAINTING MATERIAL CLOSEUP OF AGHEYLA MINT EYDE'S FACE AS SHE CONCENTRATES ON WORK VARIOUS OF GLASS GRAINS BEING CRUSHED AND MIXED CLOSEUP OF ROUND GLASS BEAD BEING ROLLED BY HAND VARIOUS OF BEAD BEING PAINTED MORE OF BEAD-MAKING PROCESS BEAD BEING PLACED IN SMALL OVEN, CREATED USING A CLAY PLATE AND CHARCOAL CHARCOAL BURNING NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NOUAKCHOTT NATIONAL MUSEUM ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF HAIRSTYLES AND ANCIENT BEADS ON DISPLAY IN MUSEUM (SOUNDBITE) (French) ALLE OULD MARWANI, NATIONAL MUSEUM CURATOR, SAYING: "The famous Kiffa beads originated from two places: there is the negro-African, especially because the region of Kiffa is influenced by the Empire of Ghana, especially the Sarakholes (Soninkes) who are nearby. The beads are made by imitating the ancients beads of the Ghanaian kingdom or by imitating artisan drawings and leather crafts." KIFFA, MAURITANIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KIFFA BEADS MADE BY EYDE AND HER FRIENDS, SHOWING TYPICAL COLOURFUL PATTERNS
- Embargoed: 19th May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mauritania
- Country: Mauritania
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVA7YROP9QUXFUW4B2JAHPW9AWTD
- Story Text: Kiffa town, in southern Mauritania, is famous for its multi-coloured glass beads.
Known as Kiffa beads, the ornaments are part of ancient tradition in the area influenced by both African and Arabic heritage.
Today, women in the town have been inspired by the rare beads and have revived the art of making them by hand.
Mystery and legend surround the beads and its origins.
Maimouna Mint Salek, a member of the Research and Study Centre of Western Sahara (CEROS), says Kiffa beads were mainly used to adorn women's hair.
"Initially, women used jewellery, beads and shells in their hair to make their hair styles more attractive. So, it was used mainly for hairstyles," she said, adding that today the beads cost between 1,000-3,000 Ouguiyas (4 - 11 U.S. dollars) each, depending on the workmanship involved.
Agheyla Mint Eyde and her friends go through the slow process of crushing glass, hand-rolling the beads, decorating and baking them.
"I begin by breaking one or two glasses with this stone and it takes a whole day. In the evening, I roll out 20 balls from the broken glass and I leave them out to dry until the next day. I then draw different symbols on it and put them in a hot stove for two hours before removing them," she explained as the women worked.
Although it's unknown when the first Kiffa beads were made, they can be traced back to the Koumbi Saleh, the ancient capital of the empire of Ghana.
By the 1970s, only a handful of old women made them. But in the 1980s, due to foreign collectors taking an interest in the art, Kiffa beads experienced a revival.
At the national museum, ancient beads are on display in cabinets for visitors to see.
Alle Ould Marwani is the museum's curator.
He said: "The famous Kiffa beads originated from two places: there is the negro-African, especially because the region of Kiffa is influenced by the Empire of Ghana, especially the Sarakholes (Soninkes) who are nearby. The beads are made by imitating the ancients beads of the Ghanaian kingdom or by imitating artisan drawings and leather crafts."
Kiffa beads are now sold across the country but many say that the "new" product has lost its aesthetic appeal compared to the ancient beads. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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