Jewelry

I can't believe I plugged GoGo and forgot to mention the jewelry of Ibo Island. This jewelry is amazing and you get to watch it being made by local artisans. Their website states, "Once lost in time...ancient traditions, dream-like designs. Handcrafted by artisans on a remote, long-forgotten island. Centries of Arabic, African, European and Indian influences exquisitely blended together to create intricate and sensual pieces, that remain virtually undiscovered, until now...".

I don't know about the senual part, but this jewelry is simply amazing. Go to http://www.ibosilver.com/ and read all about it and check out their catalogue. I got to watch men, squatting on the floor of little concrete houses, make these out of melted down coins with handmade blow torches. The backdrop of this island and this trade of making jewelry all just blew me away. Ibo Island used to be a major place of trade, of goods such as ivory... and of slaves. The island is now a ghost town, with crumbling buildings that goats now inhabit that you can tell were once grand and elaborate. It does have a very haunted feeling. The history, bondage, and cruelty that occured on that island is deep. Yet, it is surrounded by stunning crystal clear blue waters, sunsets that will make you cry, and a beautiful small village of smiling Mozambicans.

Okay, I think I get it now. If your jewelry comes with the man with this chest...it's sensual. Mine came in dirty newspaper.