Handmade Metal bowls, 1960s These metal bowls were designed, produced and decorated by hand. They show the skills and craft of local artists in West Africa. AIKINAMADU KANO Bowl The inside base of this bowl has 'pecked' into the smooth hammered surface the letters "AIKINAMADU KANO". This may mean that this bowl was made by Nigerian artist Aikin Amadu or Akinamadu, from Kano, a large city of northern Nigeria. The geometric pattern on the outside of this bowl is rooted in the region’s Islamic traditions. 2012.28 BIDA Bowls TheseThis bowl and bowl with lid were made in the city of Bida, in Niger, the largest state in Nigeria. Fulani and Beni people in the city are known for their beautifully made and designed metal products. The base of both bowls are imprinted with ‘BIDA’ to note where they were made. 2012.29, 2012.30

Rhodesia Postage Stamp, 1920s Dalston landowner Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902) played a significant role in setting up colonies in Africa. His British South Africa Company exploited the natural mineral wealth of the African continent to benefit Britain, rather than Africa or Africans. His racist beliefs ruined the lives of many Africans and he became very rich in the process. In 1923 a new country, Rhodesia, was created and named after him, and stamps like this were produced for it. It was a British colony until 1980 when it became independent and was renamed Zimbabwe. 2021.2 War in Africa European involvement in Africa led to a number of wars. British military campaigns and their leaders were celebrated in items like these collectable stevengraphs, pictures woven from silk. Lord Herbert Kitchener secured control of Sudan in 1898 and was made Baron Kitchener of Khartoum, Sudan’s capital. Iconic World War One (1914-1918) posters feature an image of him pointing, with the words ‘Your Country Needs You’. During the Second Boer War (1899-1902), Robert Baden-Powell defended the town of Mafeking (Mahikeng) in South Africa for the British during a 217-day battle. He went on to found the worldwide Scout movement. 1990.138, 1990.139

Food storage, preparation and consumption Wooden Pestle and Mortar, Nigeria This is a traditional device for milling grains and spices by pounding them. Whole grains or spices are placed in the mortar and the rounded pestle is used to crush them into fine powders. 2000.4, 2000.5 Gourd Vessel, Nigeria This container is hollow inside and has a seperate cap, attached with nylon twine. It is used for storing food. 2000.23 These items were chosen by Hackney Museum’s West African Collecting Panel in 2000 as examples of objects panel members were familiar with while growing up in West Africa. Calabash, Ghana This bowl is made from gourd, with the design of a snake and geometric panel etched into the surface. Gourd is a fleshy, large fruit with a hard skin. Some varieties are edible, others are dried and used to make objects. This bowl was used for eating or serving food. 1996.72

Brass Gold Weights These weights were essential tools for trade in West Africa until the late 1800s and are cast with great skill. They and are often symbolic, depicting local proverbs or folktales. Made from imported European brass, these weights represented units to measure gold-dust, the currency of the region until the late 1800s. Traders carried many weights and most families would also have a collection that could be passed down as heirlooms. The brass made gold weight would sit on one side of a pair of scales and gold-dust would be scooped onto the other with a brass spoon. Historically, the Akan region, a part of West Africa which now lies across Ghana and the Ivory Coast, contained substantial gold deposits which led to the region being known as the ‘Gold Coast’ by European traders. 2012.11, 2012.12, 2012.13, 2012.14

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Empire Day, 1916 The map on this Empire Day certificate is colour- coded to show the British empire, its allies and enemies, allied territory, occupied by Germany, and German colonies captured by British forces. Empire Day started in 1902 to remind children that they formed part of the British empire, and what it meant to be ‘sons and daughters’ of such an empire. This certificate was presented to Percy Taylor of Daubeney Road School, Hackney. 2012.169

Christmas Gifts to Soldiers & Sailors, 1916 The contribution of Britain’s empire, including Africa, to the First World War (1914-1918) is overlooked in the people represented in this certificate, presented to Percy Taylor of Daubeney Road School, Hackney. During the First World War Britain sent many African men to Europe to support those already fighting. Germany used African soldiers and labourers to defend its colonies. About 2,350,000 Africans were mobilized between 1914 and 1919 for different European empires. Over 250,000 soldiers and carriers, and 750,000 civilians died in this effort. 2012.168

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