The African artifacts collection is a unique gift that allows viewers to feel connected to African heritage and expands our sense of identity as global citizens, learners and explorers.
They serve to multiply the positive impact that education, art and culture can have on lives, communities and our world, starting right here in our region. The displays can be found on Main Campus, and the Downtown Saginaw and Midland Centers.
Africa’s history spans thousands of years. The continent—comprised of 62 countries—is 3.5 times the size of the entire continental United States. The people of Africa are diverse, and so is the art. African cultures use art in their daily lives as tools for communication, as symbols of status and authority and as a means of connecting to spiritual power.
In African art, in general:
- The human head is considered the center of knowledge and individuality
- Metals, beads and shells are signs of status, wealth and power
- Works of art serve as important forms of symbolic language in each community
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Passport masks of Liberia shadowbox
Personal “passport” masks hold many symbolic roles in the social order of a community: in addition to communicating the owner’s ancestry, they promote a sense of unity, harmony and welcome. When a mask owner is traveling outside their immediate community, the miniature mask is an important means of identification that carries with it the protection of the ancestors. These masks were carved of wood, stone and antler by their community’s resident craftsperson, who would have also created the larger masks used in masquerade ceremonies.
Gift of Dr. Kathleen List, with displays from Jim and Anita Jenkins in honor of Dr. Betty B. and S. Preston Jones
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Napkin rings representing West African cultures shadowbox
There are over 2,000 language groups in the African continent, and each language group represents a culture. On a daily basis, one person might communicate in many languages. West Africa alone is home to well over 1,000 languages. These carvings represent some of the cultures of West Africa including Bassa, Belle, Dei, Gbandi, Gbi, Gio, Gola, Grebo, Kissi, Kpelle, Krahn, Kru, Loma, Mandingo and Vai. This display represents the work of artist Mohamed K. Konneh, who learned his craft at age six, in Monrovia (the capital city of Liberia) with the encouragement of his father.
Gift of Dr. Kathleen List, with displays from Jim and Anita Jenkins in honor of Dr. Betty B. and S. Preston Jones
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Ceremonial masks of West Africa shadowbox
Many African societies have a rich tradition of masquerades, which are plays, ceremonies or dances by masked performers. Masquerades provide entertainment, define social roles, mark rites of passage (such as coming-of-age and funeral ceremonies) and communicate religious meaning. The masks used in such performances are treasured works of art. In most societies, only certain people are permitted to own or wear masks. Masks are important symbols of a community’s ancestors, spirits, history and culture.
Gift of Dr. Kathleen List, with displays from Jim and Anita Jenkins in honor of Dr. Betty B. and S. Preston Jones
Kenyan sister college alliances
For over 30 years, Delta College worked collaboratively with education institutions in Kenya. Students and staff have traveled to East Africa to give back to the villages and colleges. Together, Delta College and the three institutions pledged to work with and assist one another to achieve shared goals and outcomes through knowledge, sharing faculty, staff and student learning, as well as an exchange of materials, art, technology and community education.
The partnership that Delta has with Kenya began in 1989 when Delta entered a historic international agreement to create a sister college alliance to collaborate on education exchange, with mutual benefits for all institutions and our communities. Our partners include:
- Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology (RVIST), Nakuru, Kenya
(since 1989) - Tracom College (since 2004)
- The Presbyterian Church of East Africa College (PCEA) (since 2016)
Delta College's Vice President of Academics in the '90s, Dr. Betty Jones, was instrumental
in the development of the partnerships in Kenya. Upon her retirement in 2001, she
wrote a remarkable and inspirational story titled, "A Tale of Two Valleys," to document
the shared learning, collaboration and International team building.
The partnership continues to give students and faculty at Delta unique and exciting
learning opportunities, along with the chance to explore the planet, help others and
study abroad.
Contact us
Delta College Foundation
A013
foundation@delta.edu
989-686-9224
Hours
Monday – Thursday, 7:30am – 5:30pm
