Woodcraft

For his woodcraft, he sources the ebony wood from fallen trees which can be found in the religious centre of Touba, Senegal, and outside Dakar. The wood, traditionally used by the Baye Falls for their prayer necklaces and other jewellery, has a dark nucleus and light outer layers. Papa Ibrahima Diallo works the wood smooth by using traditional tools making the products all hand-made. He often picks motives for his sculptures from the nature, such as the sacred baobab tree, animals from the delta in southern Senegal and enters his interpretation of traditional mystic features in the nature. His jewellery include Baye Fall symbols such as the bowl for begging and the ‘club’ but also abstract modern forms.