ADVENT CALENDAR 2022
Nativity made from fired clay in the Republic of Cameroon, West Central Africa, c. early 1990s. Glencairn Museum collection, Bryn Athyn, PA. To view a zoomable version of this Nativity on Google Arts & Culture, click on the image.
6. NATIVITY FROM CAMEROON
The Republic of Cameroon, located on the western coast of Central Africa, is sometimes called “Africa in Miniature” due to its cultural and geological diversity. The population is made up of over 200 different ethnic groups, with the main religious faiths being Christianity, Islam, and indigenous religions based on animism. The natural landscape includes mountains, deserts, rainforests, savannas, and coastline.
An artisan working for the Presbyterian Handicraft Center in Cameroon (Prescraft) created this 17-piece Nativity. The hand-formed clay pieces are fired and then dipped in a solution containing eucalyptus to produce a glaze with a dark, bronze-like patina. The animals in this Nativity include a sheep, camels, and distinctive zebu cattle.
Gift of Alan and Mary Liz Pomeroy
Visit us at Follow the Star: A 2022 Advent Calendar.