BROTHER FROM BANDUNDU AND THE WOOD CARVING ATELIER, FUTI

Willie from Bandundu. He came to Kinshasa from Bandundu about 700 kilometers distant, I think, and wanted to be baptized so he could have the Priesthood in order to be the Pastor for the Church in Bandundu where he had registered the Church listing himself as the pastor. He is a very colorful character.

Here I am wearing Willie's top hat.

Willie wearing his top hat.

Elder Sneddon the office financial manager concentrating on his computer.

Sue visiting in Sister Sneddon's office.

Wood carver at work and Sue and Olivier in the background at the Futi workshop. There were several carves at work.

Wood carver at work.

Wood carver.

More carvers at work in the atelier. There are many of these around the city I have been told.

The inventory. The living room and every available space seemed to be filled with statuary.

Stacks of ebony waiting to be carved.

The master and apprentice son. Futi learned his trade from his father so it is three generational.

Here is the living room filled with carvings of all sorts and styles.

Futi's deceased grandfather's art diploma.

Wood carver in the Futi wood carving workshop cutting a piece of wood with a two man saw, alone.

A sample of Futi's carving that attracted my attention. I thought of buying a smaller version that was on display at a showroom at Boboto in town, but decided not to buy one. I liked the family group with traditional clothes and objects.