Blog Entries - November 2007

Cross River Gorilla Art Workshop, Limbe

Daniel Taylor

The day starts quickly as we rush about readying ourselves for one of the most important events of this expedition! It is only a 10 minute walk to the Wildlife Centre, but we need a truck for all our equipment and art materials. When we arrive, there is already a small group of our workshop artists there. They are excited about their day in the spotlight, and passionate about saving the Cross River Gorillas and their habitat.

All the artists are gathered to the front of a gat [...]

Limbe Wildlife Centre

Daniel Taylor

We are up by 7:00am, packing to leave for Limbe. Unfortunately, one of the team members is sick. There is no medical help for her here in this remote forest, so she has to be transferred out for medical attention.

Limbe is by the sea and in a beautiful area. The place where we are staying is in the Limbe Botanical Gardens and within walking distance to both the town and the Limbe Wildlife Center. This center is a primate rescue centre that is taking care for gorillas, c [...]

Cross River Gorilla Art Class, Atonga

art4africa

After a long and difficult drive on steep tracks full of gullies, we arrived in the afternoon in Atonga village. The headmaster of Atonga Primary School called the children back to the school and we introduced the project to the teachers and children. A thunderstorm was approaching and it was extremely hot and humid.

We were invited to conduct the film showing in the Fons’s palace. The Fon of Atonga, although very old and blind, also joined for this special event and p [...]

Art Class at Njentse Primary School, SW Cameroon

art4africa

In Njentse, the school children and teachers were waiting for us when we arrived at 10AM. A meeting was held with the chairman of the school board, the headmaster and teachers in which we explained the programme and activities of that day in more detail. We also discussed the overall education and wildlife art activities, which are part of this expedition, and how these activities are embedded in

a long term community development and conservation project in the area.

Since we di [...]

School Art Classes in Fossimondi, SW Cameroon

art4africa

After the film showing the children went back to the school for the workshop. It was decided that we would work with a group of 40 pupils of 8-9 years old. Artist Daniel Taylor explained the theme of the art workshop, the Cross River Gorillas, as well as the use of materials like brushes, water and paint. For these children it was the very first time that they were using paint and brushes.

{gallery}art_workshop_fossimondi{/gallery}
Daniel de [...]

Great Apes Film Showing

art4africa

This morning we arrived around 8:30am at the Fossimondi Primary School, welcomed by groups of excited children. A brief introduction meeting with the headmaster and teachers followed. Since we wanted to show a great apes film to the children prior the the art workshop, all the children of the school were asked to go to the Fon’s palace. A 10 minutes walk but most of the children were running all the way down to the palace as you can see in the video.

The Fon’s [...]

Gorilla Nests and Tracks

art4africa

Early in the morning we got up, had a quick breakfast with our powder drinks and we packed the tent. We made some photographs of the magnificent views on the forest valleys below as well as a short video of Louis introducing the highlands and adjacent villages.

It was decided that the team would split up, with Daniel and Ginette taking the road going up the mountain and slowly making their way back to the village. The second team, including Louis, Arend [...]

Land of the Cross River Gorilla

Daniel Taylor

It’s THE long awaited morning......We make Expedition! Our gear has long been in preparation and our inclination to go is high.

As artist of this first expedition, my highly anticipated wait is now over. My dreams of descending deep into the Lebialem Highlands seeking the “Cross River Gorilla” are now being realized.

We will have to make a steep 5km descent down slippery pathways consisting of boulders and rock like trail formations. The path [...]