Reflecting the romance and beauty of African culture, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge features an extensive collection of authentic African art. Approximately 380 museum-quality pieces are featured in public areas throughout the resort, with more than 4,000 handcrafted works in the guestrooms.
A Tribal Dance Costume from Cameroon
“The Monkey Leaps only as far as it can Reach” – Fante Proverb
Woven baskets from Botswana
Bedu Mask, Kulango People, Ivory Coast
Carved bench in courtyard
Chairbacks
Brass clock at Kidani village
Farmer and plow – Kidani village
Bamana Puppet – This Bamana puppet from Mali represents the virtuosity of the blacksmith and his ability to work with metal, wood and other material.
Tutsi Basket – This Tutsi woman’s basket from Rwanda is shaped to mimic the form of their traditional houses.
Kuba Skirt Panels – Asymmetric designed grass skirt panels are woven by Kuba women from the Democratic Republic of Congo and sewn together to make lengthy skirt wraps
Ijo Fisherman Headdress – the Ijo people of Nigeria danced in this head dress in the form of a canoe to awaken sacred water spirits and ensure the bounty.
Detail from Ijo headdress
Asante Leopard Stool – Members of the royalty among the Asante people of Ghana sat upon elaborate figurative stools with symbols of power such as the leopard
Babanki Leopard Stool – The Babanki people of Cameroon believe the leopard to be a symbol of power and only allow the king or senior elder to sit upon such a stool.
Chockwe Pig Mask – The Chockwe people of Angola dance animal masks during fertility rituals. This pig mask illustrates the root of animal domestication.
Ijo Hippo Helmet mask – This Hippo mas was danced by the Ijo people of Nigeria to evoke sacred water spirits and acknowledge the role of hunting in man’s survival.
Mumuye Basket – The Mumuye people of Northern Nigeria store valuable items in baskets decorated with symbols of currency including cowrie shells and actual colonial coins.
Nupe Pot – The Nupe people of Nigeria use terra cotta pots to store a variety of foods and liquids.
Asafo flags – The Asafo people used civil defense flags to warn potential enemies that they would be pursued and caught.
Ogoni Water Spirit Puppet – The Ogoni people of Nigeria danced this figurative headcrest to appease water spirits. It depicts a man riding atop a figure that is part bird and part canoe.
Fishing baskets
Even in Africa…!
The Igbo Ijele (pronounced e-bo e-gelay), a rare and colorful ceremonial African mask that stands 16 feet tall, graces the lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
| The Ijele represents all aspects of Igbo life, dealing with the material and spiritual worlds through the various colors, designs, fabrics and figures found on the mask. Construction by a team of commissioned artists can involve four men working eight to 10 hours a day, seven days a week, for at least six weeks. The men work in seclusion before moving to an outside area for the final touches.
About 12 bright panels, nearly six feet in length, hang down from the disc to conceal the mask carrier.
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| No other Ijele, which is the largest mask in tropical Africa, is known to exist outside of Igbo land. |
The Framework — A brightly colored cloth completely covers a cone-shaped frame supported on a circular foundation. The cloth creates a kaleidoscopic, rainbow effect. Hundreds of tassels are attached to the arches and the rim of the base.
It would have taken days to photograph all the treasures at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village. I have given you just a glimpse of all the priceless art that is on display there. Of course, the best way to see them is to go there yourself. You will NOT regret it!
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