Interview With a Hidden Talent
By Awungjia Columbus
What kind of artistic work do you produce?
I produce masks, statues, stools, mortars, walking sticks, chairs and anything that someone describes to me. At times people place a command and ask me to conceive the object.
How did you become a carver and do you actually make a living from carving?
I was born with the talents, but when I produced my first work of art in 1985, my father stopped me with the pretext that I was still young. But when he died and I succeeded him, I started working in the cocoa farm in Nchen to sustain the family, but in 2002, I fell sick and could no longer work in the farm. The only option I had was to concentrate on carving. What I produce is my personal conception. At times, when I encounter difficulties, I sleep over it and the solution comes to me in a dream or as a vision. For now, it does not really pay me the way it should just because I lack the marker.
What are some of the problems you face?
Very few people know about me and my works, so they don't come to me for command. I usually go for long distances to get raw material for my work since the species of trees we use are becoming very scarce or even getting extinct. Even after getting it, transportation to my workshop is another problem due to bad roads and lack of means. We carvers are not united. While on my part I strive for quality and fame, other carvers need just money. A mask that I sell for 5000 F, others sell for 1500F. Finally, my tools are rudimentary and this makes me spent more time on a piece of work.
What type of help do you need?
I need a market for my finished products. As I said, many people don't know about my works. I need a strong motorcycle to cover the long distances to look for raw material or to carry the objects to the workshop. I also need modern tools to facilitate my job. I would like artists to create a network in which we can share new ideas and harmonize our prices. ow long does it take you to produce the most difficult object and for how much do you sell it?
The most difficult so far( the arm chair) took me 32 days and I sold it
for 200 000 F. It took that long because I always want to give the best
of myself. I do not rush over my work because my priority is quality and
not just money.
Are there many of you in this carving sector?
I know of about ten in Lebang, one in Ndungated and in Lewoh we are very few.
Is any of your children taking after you?
Yes my two years old child. He imitates all I do and I try to encourage him.
Can you train someone to become a carver?
Yes. My wish is to transmit the skills to about ten young people before my retirement.
What does it take to learn the trade?
One needs a lot of patience, good tools or implements, the technique of sharpening these implements, the ability to identify the various species of trees used for carving and above all love for the art.
What are some of these trees you use in your work?
I use camp wood (ebuh), iroko (emang), ebony (nogosong), tiger wood (elung), (mafouh), (kekeh), (etong), (bekouah), (lentwine). The best of all is tiger wood (elung).
How do you identify these trees in the forest?
Even From a distance, I can identify a tree from the shape of its leaves, the structure of the branches or trunk. After identifying the tree, I have to buy it from the owner, some times after a serious negotiation.
Many people associate carving with mystical powers. What is your take on that?
I don't believe in that. I don't hide my skills. I allow any interested person to see what I do. I don't even prevent people from coming into my workshop. It is normal with all human beings that when they cannot do something, they think that any person who does it uses mystical powers. That is not the case with me.
Are you married?
I am married with four children.
What are your ambitions in life?
I dream one day of being among the first 10 carvers in Cameroon and in the world. But my greatest fear to this dream is my level of education. The object I am working on now is a master piece. I intend to take it for the national exhibition soon to come up.
What is your academic background?
I attended Gov't School Ntentsho where I obtained the First School Leaving Certificate in 1987. That very here, my father died and made me his successor. I was forced to leave school in order to look after the family entrusted to my care. If given the opportunity, I would still like to go to school even if not for certificates, at least to fit squarely in this modern society.
Contact : Bekoncho D. +23797037552, e-mail : defwem@yahoo.co
Are there many of you in this carving sector?
I know of about ten in Lebang, one in Ndungated and in Lewoh we are very few.
Is any of your children taking after you?
Yes my two years old child. He imitates all I do and I try to encourage him.
Can you train someone to become a carver?
Yes. My wish is to transmit the skills to about ten young people before my retirement.
What does it take to learn the trade?
One needs a lot of patience, good tools or implements, the technique of sharpening these implements, the ability to identify the various species of trees used for carving and above all love for the art.
What are some of these trees you use in your work?
I use camp wood (ebuh), iroko (emang), ebony (nogosong), tiger wood (elung), (mafouh), (kekeh), (etong), (bekouah), (lentwine). The best of all is tiger wood (elung).
How do you identify these trees in the forest?
Even From a distance, I can identify a tree from the shape of its leaves, the structure of the branches or trunk. After identifying the tree, I have to buy it from the owner, some times after a serious negotiation.
Many people associate carving with mystical powers. What is your take on that?
I don't believe in that. I don't hide my skills. I allow any interested person to see what I do. I don't even prevent people from coming into my workshop. It is normal with all human beings that when they cannot do something, they think that any person who does it uses mystical powers. That is not the case with me.
Are you married?
I am married with four children.
What are your ambitions in life?
I dream one day of being among the first 10 carvers in Cameroon and in the world. But my greatest fear to this dream is my level of education. The object I am working on now is a master piece. I intend to take it for the national exhibition soon to come up.
What is your academic background?
I attended Gov't School Ntentsho where I obtained the First School Leaving Certificate in 1987. That very here, my father died and made me his successor. I was forced to leave school in order to look after the family entrusted to my care. If given the opportunity, I would still like to go to school even if not for certificates, at least to fit squarely in this modern society.
Contact : Bekoncho D. +23797037552, e-mail : defwem@yahoo.co
