Kenyan Giraffe Sculpture

For the Kisii community of southwestern Kenya, rare giraffe sightings inspire great excitement. Giraffes are encouraged to remain within the village lands because the Kisii believe that their great height allows them to see approaching good and bad omens. Hand-carved from soapstone, this giraffe family is made in the hopes that Kisii ancestors will bring the appearance of these revered animals. Crafted by artisans, each handmade sculpture is unique; please accept slight variations.

6 1/2''W x 10''H x 3''D

The Smolart Cooperative is a group of artists living in the small rural village of Tabaka in Kisii, western Kenya, about 250 miles from Nairobi. These carvers work with locally mined Kisii stone, a type of soapstone found in various shades, hardness, and a dazzling array of colors. The production is done entirely by hand, including the quarrying of the raw stone. All carving is done using simple hand tools. Generally, the men carve and the women are in charge of finely finishing and coloring the pieces. After completing a carving the women scrutinize each item assuring that quality standards are met. Carvings with a natural stone finish are finished in a way that highlights the stone's grain and texture. Dyes and etching lend an extra dimension to an item.

The history and cultural heritage of giraffes among southwestern Kenya's Kisii community goes back many centuries. The giraffe is known in Kisii dialect as esirori nyamaguta, and is a sacred animal. Rarely seen on the Kisii highlands, its appearance was regarded as a sign from the ancestors of the Abagusii community. Because of the giraffe's height, it is considered a spiritual animal, able to see above day-to-day life into the future. Since legend held that giraffe sightings often accompanied abundant rain and bumper harvests, the animal is regarded as an omen of fertility and sacrifices are made immediately after the harvest to appease and thank the ancestors of the Abagusii community for their gift of prosperity.

After years without the appearance of any giraffes, community elders commissioned local artisans to carve images of giraffes in the hope that this might spur their return, and the return of agricultural abundance. According to village tales, the giraffes returned shortly thereafter and are today frequently seen in the neighboring Masai Mara community. Kisii carvers in the village of Tabaka continue to carve this towering and graceful animal as a wish for peace, happiness, and community prosperity.