Dear Friends of the Koumama Family,
This annual letter brings both exciting positive news about the Koumama Family Cooperative and very bitter news about conditions in Niger. First, the good news.
Elhadji Koumama will arrive on June 16 for his tenth visit to the United States. He is bringing with him a fabulous new collection of earrings, rings, pendants and bracelets as well as plenty of the favorites to restock the inventory. The silversmiths have been working very hard for two months to make all of the pieces.
Last summer Elhadji’s 16-year-old daughter, Amina, visited the United States for a month, her first trip out of Niger. There were so many firsts for her: first hot shower; first time sitting at a table to eat a meal; first airplane ride; first time in an elevator. Her absolute favorite thing was a ride on the Rocket Boat that zipped around San Francisco Bay. She thought it hilarious that her father was terrified when the boat swooped and spun around!
Elhadji and his family are well. Amina is finishing her second year of “college” (the equivalent of our high school). Smalie is completing his last year of primary school and is looking forward to joining Amina in college in the fall. Abdul is in his fifth year in primary. He likes to play more than study and his parents are threatening to send him to a bush school for a year where he would be immersed in the Tuareg culture and language and have nothing to do but study and learn nomadic survival skills. Izara is in her third year of school and continues to challenge her teachers but they love her anyway. Fatima will start school in the fall. That will leave only little Issouf, age 2, at home.
Our first appearance at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market last summer was wonderful. It was great to meet so many artists from around the world and to have the Koumama jewelry so well received. The people of Santa Fe were so warm and helpful. We will be returning to the Market in July.
One of Elhadji’s Santa Fe sponsors made a very generous contribution toward the purchase of a manual rolling machine so that sheets of silver and silver wire can be produced without laboriously hammering the metal on the head of the small anvil. The machine allows the silversmiths to make the jewelry and flatware more easily while retaining all of the handmade qualities.
After more than nine years of running TuaregJewelry.com as a volunteer business the time has come to expand it to a viable commercial operation to ensure a long-term market for the Tuareg silversmiths. We have been working with Paulette Walther and Tom McPhail, owners of Kazuri West, on a plan for them to take over the business. It is an ideal match as they import clay Kazuri beads handmade by impoverished women in Kenya so they are familiar with the challenges of selling African crafts. They are also very sensitive to fair trade issues and are committed to paying the artisans a fair living wage. It will be a gradual and seamless transition and I will continue to work with them for the foreseeable future.
Now for the not so good news about Niger. There was a drought last year so the crops failed. This week the United Nations announced that 60% of the population is facing severe food shortages now and most people will be hungry to starving before the harvest in October. About 500,000 children are at risk of dying in the next month if they do not go through special therapeutic feeding programs. Plumpy’nut, a highly nutritious peanut butter food supplement, is commonly used to save these children. So far Elhadji is managing to feed his extended family of 11 siblings and their large families as well as other relatives. He is also helping to provide food for two villages that are on the brink in the best of times and absolutely desperate now.
If anyone is interested in making a contribution to relief I recommend either The Nomad Foundation, www.nomadfoundation.org, or Rain for the Sahel and Sahara, www.rain4sahara.org. Both are 501(c) 3 charities so contributions are tax deductable. The Nomad Foundation is run by Leslie Clark of Ojai, California, and Rain is operated by Bess Palmisciano of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. These women are doing terrific and courageous work in getting help directly to those who need it most without interception by corrupt individuals.
Niger’s President Tandja was supposed to complete his second term and leave office in December. However, he forced through a change in the constitution and became a de facto dictator. As a result the European Union and the United States cut off much needed foreign aid. The military staged a coup in February and the junta has vowed to return the country to a democracy with elections scheduled at the end of the year. Some humanitarian assistance is beginning to flow again.
The civil war ended last fall so Larry and I planned our first trip to the Sahara since 2006. Unfortunately, because of the increase in armed robberies and kidnappings of Europeans for ransom we were forced to take Elhadji’s advice to cancel the trip. With the increase in lawlessness and Al-Qaeda of Algeria operating in the desert we have no idea when or whether we will be able to return to our home in Agadez. The tourist business is completely devastated which means that there are few jobs and very little money for the people.
Elhadji will be making the following public appearances during his summer trip. We hope to see you at one or more of the events.
June 19 & 20
MARIN ART FESTIVAL. We will again be in Booth 50 overlooking the lagoon at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael from 10 to 6 both days. You can download and print a free pass at www.marinartfestival.com/updatedocs/guestpass.html. This is a lovely festival and a good opportunity to chat with Elhadji.
June 26, 1-5 pm
Metal Arts Guild, Scintillant Studio, 1258 Valencia Street (between 23rd and 24th Streets), San Francisco. Elhadji will be doing a demonstration and all of the jewelry will be on display for sale.
July 9-11
Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, Santa Fe. July 9 is a VIP fundraising reception.
July 16, 4-8
Les Cheneaux Arts Council demonstration and sale. Hodeck Street, Cedarville, Michigan. We have a summer home in this lovely Upper Peninsula community on Lake Huron. The Arts Council is sponsoring the event.
July 21-24
Ann Arbor State Street Area Art Fair, Ann Arbor, Michigan. This is one of four concurrent art fairs in Ann Arbor which makes it one of the biggest events in the country and one of the oldest. We will be in Booth B714.
July 30, 4-10 pm
Show and sale of jewelry, Gallery 333, 333a Caledonia Street, Sausalito. Join us for a glass of wine and a chance to chat with Elhadji about the jewelry, Tuareg life and traditions.
July 31, 11-4
Trunk show at Artifax International Gallery and Gifts, on the Plaza, 450 First Street East, Sonoma.
August 1, 10-6
Open House at Campbell Hall, Christ Episcopal Church, 70 San Carlos Street, Sausalito. This is another opportunity for a leisurely chat with Elhadji.
August 7, 10-5
Open House at Lynn Churchill’s studio, 720 Coloma Street (MLK Building). Lynn has a lovely intimate studio which makes an excellent backdrop for Tuareg jewelry and artifacts. She tells me that parking can be a bit of a challenge but don’t give up as there is street parking as well as at the park.
We hope to see you at one or more of the events. Please also visit the website, www.TuaregJewelry.com.
Sincerely,
Ann M. Elston