Kenya hosts travelling rock art exhibition

Text & Pictures
By Emmanuel Mwendwa

A unique art exhibition Windows on Africa’s Past unveiled at Alliance Française de Nairobi, in Kenya , on 27th February 2007 , marked the beginning of the first traveling Pan-African rock art showcase.

The multifaceted display focusing on ancient art heritage, closed its curtains in Nairobi on March 31st, and is scheduled to proceed to 11 other African countries. These include Botswana , Chad , Djibouti , Eritrea , Madagascar , Malawi , Niger , Swaziland , Tanzania , Zimbabwe and possibly Namibia .

A series of photographic, informative panels, blown-up and mounted glossy images, take art enthusiasts and connoisseurs through an intriguing, eye-opening “discovery voyage” laden with insights on aesthetic values of the little-known-about artistic heritage. The symbolism of rock art images and challenges faced in concerted efforts made over recent years to preserve fast-diminishing, rare cultural expressions on stone – are among highlights of the exhibition launched by H.E. Elisabeth Barbier, French Ambassador to Kenya .

In her speech, she noted that protection of this enriching heritage scattered over millions of square kilometers – was no mean task, especially when such measures may not be considered priority in a continent where thousands of citizenry are still unable to fulfill most basic needs. “But personally I believe, in order to achieve its development goals, hopefully sooner rather than latter – Africa needs to know where it wants to go and, also where it comes from. African culture in general and African rock art in particular – is not only a fabulous tangible heritage, which must be preserved for future generations. It is also the basis on which, Africans can lay foundations for their development”, noted Barbier.

The display panels provide important educational information on the history, past and present cultures that likely inspired ancient African rock art. These influences are highlighted with timelines tracing artistic styles culled from around the continent. There are indicators varied rock art sites across Africa range from about 27000 years old to discoveries dating over recent centuries. This unique traveling exhibition, co-ordinated by the Nairobi-based Trust for African Rock Art ( TARA ), may have attracted scant attention in mainstream Kenyan media. But sampled random comments by visitors to the venue – describe the display “.. as one of most creative and interesting showcases..” held in the city in recent years.

TARA 's mission is pitched on creating greater global awareness on the importance and endangered state of Africa 's rock art; whilst undertaking consistent surveys on rock art sites and monitoring their status. The trust, through its offices in Nairobi and the USA , also seeks to serve as a credible information resource and archive – besides being at fore front of initiatives which promote and support rock art conservation efforts.

To quote the immediate former United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan’s words – “African rock art is not just an African, but a World Heritage...” Widely regarded as one among the world's oldest surviving forms of creative expression, African rock art reportedly predates writing by “tens of thousands of years”.

Researchers have established ancient art provides illuminating insights, for instance, shedding light on how African ancestors’ thought, perceived and portrayed the world around them. So many centuries later, some rock paintings and engravings can in essence be described as magnificent masterpieces of undiluted ancient art, comparable to most of finest works treasured and displayed in prestigious global art galleries and museums. Major concentrations of rock art have been unearthed across Africa – home to some of the oldest rock art croppings. The continent is also thought to be endowed with the greatest variety of the artistic engravings on earth.

TARA ’s on-going survey findings indicate about 30 African countries; between them share an estimated 10 – 20 million rock art images documented worldwide. However, key rock art sites are spread out in regions stretching from the Sahara to parts of Southern Africa. Images featured at the exhibition offer tantalizing glimpses into particular African communities’ ancient cultural practices, traditions, beliefs, early morality trends among other aspects. Hence the display could be viewed as an attempt to demystify the varied rock art styles and time frames, which link distinct artistic styles or forms to diverse regions across Africa .

It is indisputable the ancient art form and existing sites maybe irreplaceable. But it has also proven difficult to establish accurate dates to peg on specific engravings or carvings chipped on rock faces and surfaces. Scientists and researchers nonetheless reportedly use radiometric techniques to trace the rocks organic components to estimate possible timelines of a specific piece of art carved, painted or engraved on the rocks.

Further findings reveal images captured on stone could be among the only surviving records of ancient human communication as well as also being the earliest known form of cultural and historical archives. Africa ’s oldest rock paintings, according to information mounted at the exhibition– are identified as small stone plaquettes, which depict fading yet still distinctive images of animals. These were excavated from a rock shelter in Namibia and are believed to date back 28, 000 years – an estimate derived from charcoal deposits found in layers of rocky sediments. The earliest known active period of rock art in the Sahara region was characterized by large, life-size engravings of hippos, elephants, crocodiles, rhinos, giraffes, buffalos – with pointers these could have been painted during fertile spells before desert crept in. human figures are however also evident on engravings though these were dwarfed by animals immensity.

Past excavations of painted rock art fragments unearthed in Zimbabwe date between 18,000 to 22,000 years. From parts of Southern Africa – aspects of rock art are related to existing traditional artistic Bushmen paintings, perhaps a significant indicator of intense painting and engraving activity in the region.

Botswana , Lesotho , Malawi , Mozambique , Swaziland , Namibia and South Africa are among countries identified where rock art engravings and paintings thrived thousands of years ago. Others include Angola , central Africa , Zambia , Malawi , Tanzania , Kenya , Ethiopia , Sudan , Niger , Chad , Libya , Algeria and Morocco .

emmanuel@showbizeastafrica.com