ATCs For All - Mama Africa III

With my association with Africa I have no choice but to join in, couldn't really miss the opportunity! lol
I have sorted several themes during the past week or two and then today 'it hit me!'

This is my Notice Board - as you can see not many notices but lots of trivia - warm memories are locked on this board!  I won't go into them now - maybe on my other Blog, Recollections and Trivia.
Suffice to say middle left there is a card that I bought from the hotel shop on my very first visit to Nigeria.  
I have wanted to copy it, but so far not managed it  ...... maybe today .....

The card is made from cutout figures with traditional patterned material behind.   I have been given lots of material pieces from the various Churches we visited on our trips out there.  

I photocopied the card several times and then fussy cut out all the figures.  I chose five separate pieces of material and ironed them onto some fusable backing to make them more stable and easier to cut. 

I placed the figures over the top and cut the material to shape.

I cut into the figures so that the material would show through as in the lower right figure, I have the outline still to attach.

Searching out my watercolour paper I cut several ATC cards and then, with Inktense pencils, drew backgrounds which I hope will hint at village life.  I washed the cards with my waterbrush and added a bit more colour here and there to suggest shadows.

Silly me I forgot to take pictures of them!! 

I then proceeded to cut, stick and colour until I had finished all five dancing and drumming figures.  I even managed to cut out 'hats'.
I am very pleased that at last I have managed to complete my take on this card.  
I have often seen this dancing, was joining in not three months ago - this time in England at a Nigerian Church.  
Such vibrancy and joy!!!

We have two 'talking drums' at home, and lots of traditional costumes - these cards bring back such wonderful memories.
I have searched the web to try to find the artist of this card and/or the company that sold it but no luck so far.