There's no specific allusion to dragons that I can find in African lore - (the closest I can find are Rainbow Serpents, of which there are MANY for all corners of the continent it seems) - but dragons are so ubiquitous in the mythologies of mankind that I am sure one is out there. Heck, maybe rainbow serpents are essentially dragons - I mean, anything longish, toothy, and covered in scales can pass for a dragon, after all.
Anyways, here is my take on what an African icon of a classic (European?) dragon might look like.
Very cool. I always liked the cultural hints that you put in most of your work. Keep rock'n february African style!
ReplyDeleteThere are some firebreather masks in Senufo peoples. It's a part of a male's coming of age ceremony. I think the boy/man is awoken in the night and urged out side where a man, wearing a mask with smoldering coals resting in the large snout of the mask, waits to scare and chase him. The wearer of the mask can blow out over the coals to produce a cloud of soot, and some burning motes of fire as well. It's not a dragon, but it has draconic flavor. I have really enjoyed your month of African-influenced drawings. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, that has some draconic flavor - very interesting. Thanks for the input, Micah!
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