Inspired By Love. Rooted In Tradition. Ernestina’s Story
This February, we’re celebrating Black History Month by featuring artisans who inspire us with their work and their incredible stories of triumph. West African artisan, Ernestina Oppong Asante, shows us how one woman defied gender expectations to carve a place for herself among the greats.
“Though carving has long been regarded as the preserve
of men, I am glad that I have been able not only to infiltrate but to also make
an impact on the trade,” Ernestina says.
She studied under the
respected carver, Kwame Duah, and soon she was designing her own wood carvings,
masks, and drums. By 1995, she had built her own workshop, employing four other
carvers.
For Ernestina,
collecting raw materials is a celebration of the land itself. Each piece has
its own provenance.
“From Nakese in the
Eastern region, I acquire a type of hardwood known as tweneboa for carving the
drums. For the pegs I use the odum tree. I use goatskin, cloth, iron rods and
strings. The animal skin is from the Northern region of Ghana and its environs.
It is soaked in water
for two hours to soften. The skin is firmly pulled through the iron rings to
cover the mouth of the drum and this ensures that it comes out with a good
sound. The drum is then left in the sun to dry after which it is tested for
sound and tone quality.”
Beyond her art, Ernestina is a breaker of boundaries.
She is not held back by other’s expectations or judgments. She forges ahead,
always with love in her heart.
Her husband, Daniel, had been a taxi driver
before Ernestina encouraged him to learn the trade, then lured him into the
business. Now they carve together, allies in love and in art. Her house is
brimming with children who are not biologically her own — nieces, nephews, her
husband’s children from a previous marriage — yet she has raised them with the
unflinching love of a parent.
In every way, Ernestina is deserving of awe
and admiration. The moment she flashes her million-dollar smile, you realize
that greatness lies in the incredible humanity and grace she brings to every
aspect of her life.
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