Let The Story Be Told
to Roy Midwinter: for his musicianship and his humanity.
Time is passing,
So let the story be told.
It is long overdue,
So let the story unfold:
Of the African influence on European art.
Let us start with Vlaminck,
And that bar in Argenteuil.
Where a round of drinks,
Began his African zeal:
Art of the Yoruba and the Baule.
Onward to Derain,
Who was given a Fang mask.
Enjoyed his first drink,
From the African flask:
The Fang of Gabón and Cameroon.
Matisse bought a statue,
From a curio shop.
Took it to a saloñ,
Observed the jaws that dropped:
A Vili statuette from the Congo.
Picasso saw the Vili figure,
Evening of enchantment.
He yearned to see more,
So to the Trocodero he went:
Sculpture of West and Central África.
(c) Natty Mark Samuels, 2020. African School.
Vlaminck – Maurice de Vlaminck, 20th century French artist.
Yoruba – people of south-west Nigeria.
Baule – people of central lvory Coast.
Derain – André Derain, 20th century French artist.
Matisse – Henri Matisse, 20th century French artist.
Vili – people of Democratic Repúblic of the Congo.
Picasso – Pablo Picasso, 20th century Spanish artist.
Trocodero – Parisian ethnographic museum
