Feature Product for 2009

The Malika Monkeys are proud to present a beautiful and unique African nativity set showing off their craftsmanship. The box, which serves both as display stand and storage case, is made of Senegal Rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus), a very dense and rare hardwood indigenous to only a few places in West Africa. The hand-carved silhouettes [backlit by 3 tealights] are made of African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), one of the densest woods in the world, and one of the most expensive.

Each figure is authentic to an African setting. The tree is a baobab, very common in Africa and its folklore. The shepherd and longhorn cattle characterize African nomadic traditions. The huts typify rural habitation, still a common way of life despite the exodus to big cities. The donkey is still widely used as a form of transportation. Lastly, the manger scene represents the focal point of history, the coming of the Messiah.

This set comes in a padded fabric bag embellished with a piece of Malian mudcloth (bogolan fini), which is dyed with mud and pounded foliage. The bag is also sewn in the shop. Display stand dimensions: 18.5" x 3.25" x 2.5"