A shield to express power

When emperor Haile Selassie visited the Netherlands in 1954, he gave a shield to the mayor of Amsterdam.

Object of the month

 Such a shield is used to express status and power; a servant holds the shield high behind a warlord to strengthen his arguments during important discussions. This Ethiopian shield is made of leather over a wooden frame and it is embellished with red velvet and gold coloured metal.

Red symbolises in Ethiopia love and, the blood shed in the defence of the country. The colour red is the subject of an exhibition that will open at the Tropenmuseum on November 5.
Thanks,
     GerardM

Travelling to #Holland

The #Tropenmuseum is preparing an exhibition of pictures by Leonard Freed (1929-2006) and will be called "One way trip Holland". Freed made pictures in the period 1958-1962 of a diverse group of people who immigrated from Indonesia. Among them were Dutch Indonesians who belonged to a large group of people who made a trip by boat after the independence of Indonesia.

Freed took pictures when they got of the boat, when they arrived in temporary camps, when they met their family, on the street, working and at school. He also took pictures of Moluku families who had already been living in the Netherlands for seven years.

Who is this man, who is this kid.. Are they related?

These pictures are exhibited for the first time. Many pictures show unknown people. The Tropenmuseum wants to know if you can identify these people.
Thanks,
        GerardM

Barack #Obama is an #African #president

The #Tropenmuseum offers in its new exhibition "Leve de President" or Long live the President, the strongest proof yet that Barack Obama is not a true blooded American.

The exhibition is about the African tradition to honour its leaders in textile. Some 115 portrait-cloths will be on display showing the main players of recent African history from 30 African countries, going all the way from Senegal to South Africa and featuring the likes of Nelson Mandela, Mobutu Sese Seko and most significantly Barack Obama.

This picture has not been photoshopped, as a further proof we have acquired for you this photo of the portrait-cloth as it can be found on the exhibition that runs until August 29. An English language book (€ 19.50) researching the subject is available from KIT publishers featuring all these African notables and can be ordered on-line here.

Thank you and, God bless America
     GerardM