Liberville - Culture

Libreville the capital of Gabon. Most Gabonese live from pay check to pay check except the upper class. In a country where most rich people are from the government. That should tell you something (greed, corruption, and power). In America a true democratic society, the president is not even considered among the richest man in the country. The stock market, will give the smart ones the opportunity to not only have a salary from work but also make money from the market even become independent specialty in today's society where everything is being done on the computer at home

Countries such as Gabon has improved some how. In a Continent of the wild wild west. where everybody with muscle can manufacture his own law, Gabon has relatively remain stable although the country has yet to truly exercise a democratic system. The only reason why countries such as Gabon, Cote D'yvoire still stable is because the economy is still acceptable. Whilst still feared and respected as a representative of the sacred and mysterious art of sculpture, masks today enjoy an increasing artistic appreciation.
They are a concrete expression of man's idea of spirit. The mask represented the spirit linked to the life of the village ; it gave support and rules to individuals and punished those who did not follow them.

The mask carved by an artist had to be a copy of an existing one ; the wood, soft and light, was selected after consulting the « Priest», who had to appease the spirit dwelling in the tree, by performing purification rituals, even on the artist himself. The design of the mask represented traditions and visions shown to the priest by the spirit of the mask. It was only after the first ceremony and its first appearance in public that the mask developed its full occult powers. 

At the end of their life, masks were destroyed according to specific rites which enabled them to pass their occult powers on to other masks. Masks were as varied and different as were tribes; the most commonly found ones are the white masks (thought to be a reminder of death). Despite being destroyed by missionaries who considered them to be pagan idols, statues are still the pride of Gabonese plastic arts. Different materials are used to create them : blackened wood, polished wood, wood strips, sheets and plates of brass and the Mbigou stone (Ngouniι) also used for busts and modern art.

Folklore is an important element in Gabonese culture. Its music has not been touched by outside influences, compared with Gabonese so-called modern music.

Gabonese folklore seems close to the ancient art of the minstrel, where a storyteller, accompanying himself on the harp, recites half spoken, half sung epics. According to the different tribes, and the meaning of their rites, it is clear that considerable work has been done on the voice as well as the instruments.

The shape and the playing of musical instruments has remained practically unchanged throughout the years. They are used by groups or villages to create rhythm for dances expressing happiness or sorrow. 
Drums. Hollowed out tree trunk, of various lengths, depending on the tribe and the desired sound. Its upper part is covered with a membrane (animal skin) which the player stretches with its hands while playing it. Tom-tom Hollowed out tree trunk, of various lengths and diametres, closed at both ends and split lengthways. The player hits the lips of the tom-tom with two sticks. It is both a musical instrument and a message transmitter that can be heard several kilometres away. 

The balafon or xylophone Strips of wood increasing in length, set on a wooden portable framework. A row of gourdes is sometimes added to create a resonance chamber String instruments Lighter, also made of wood, they use the principle of the stretched cord, pinched with a finger or with the mouth : the musical bow, the mouth bow, the harp, the cithara, the mvet fang on which gourds are placed to create a resonance chamber.

The strips instruments. The sanza : cane or metal strips mounted on a box acting as resonance chamber. The player pinches the free end of the strip with each thumb, at the same time or alternately.