EASY ECLECTIC.

By Damali and Nii B. Andrews.

Any sterile box like space can be turned into a lush sanctuary by using dramatic elements from several African cultures.

All that is needed is a little imagination and some basic knowledge.

In Africa, eclecticism is our forte; that is where we have so much to offer. Our history is rich and our art always formidable.

Today, there are 54 countries with over 100 cultures within Africa; and of course its global diaspora that goes back several millennia.

If you are prepared to mine the always relevant themes of birth, death and rebirth, then you will have within your reach an epic eclecticism that could easily transform any of your spaces into an idyllic and tranquil place of repose.

The true aesthetes know that probing and understanding the past never fails to heighten the present.

In short, there is no excuse for a carpet remnant or garish machine made rug surmounted by a generic center table and surrounded with four uniform chairs; a flat screen TV in a corner and functionally bare walls.

That temptation is great when you consider the amount of pre owned junk furnishings being offered for sale especially along the urban roads in Accra.

It telegraphs lack of insight since in Africa we live in vibrant multicultural societies rich in eclectic motifs including contemporary visionary and inspired artisanal flourishes and of course, that’s right…..loads of wonderful CAA.

Available to us are floor coverings that include Berber, Tuareg and Ethiopian rugs made from wool, leather and rattan, almost always laden with ideographs.

There are a large variety of tasseled cushions for armchairs covered with indigenous indigo cloths, exuberant woven textiles or vivid jeweled tones that jazz up any room.

Other glamorous touches originating from Africa include elaborate hand painted cedar ceilings, adobe walls, tadelakt, ceramic tiles, monumental carved house posts and magnificent doors.

Classic furniture pieces from all eras and across continents are not excluded; neither are illuminated manuscripts, sublime pottery pieces, arabesques and photographs – recent or sepia toned.

Then of course there is CAA – the plastic arts of Africa and its diaspora; textiles, sculpture, painting; everything you need to turn a generic cookie cutter set of rooms into an eagle’s nest or lair…..a place exuding exotic opulence with an easy eclectic air of repose.

When properly executed, the easy eclectic provides much more beyond the contrived low end, “afro-chic”; it is sophisticated and transvangarde.

Now let’s do this.

The aroma of premium sandalwood or frankincense within the eclectic crib should have a musical backdrop; Don Cherry, Miles, Trane, Salif Keita, Fela, Oum Khaltoum, (bring in the) Led, Nina, Ganawa, Wolfgang Amadeus, Beethoven, King Bruce, Shakur…take your pick.

There is never just one way, but a number of good ways.

The openness to art forms and receptivity to different ways of seeing is part of our African heritage – the easy eclectic.