Meserani Snake Park is located in Tanzania, East Africa.

The snake park is located 25km west of Arusha on the route to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater.

Meserani Snake Park provides a free medical health clinic, with over a 1000 patients per month and rising. The clinic treats many medical emergencies, a common issue is treatment for infections and snakebites.

The clinic employs two-full time nurses. The clinic is open 24 /7, 365 days a year.

The owner operators of Meserani Snake Park Berry and Lynn Bale pay for all the salaries and medical supplies.

A physician assistant and a paramedic, both from Prineville, became friends with Wade Bale and learned about the Meserani Snake Park. They visited the facility two years’ ago and agreed with the Bales that a new clinic was needed to better serve the area, as the existing facility was much too small, not adequately supplied and too far away from the Snake Park itself. Upon returning to Central Oregon, these two, along with Wade Bale, his wife, Susan, and others who had also visited the Snake Park, formed  Mbuyu Charities. The word comes from the local dialect, meaning “Baobab,” a tree that is plentiful in the area. This tree is often called “The Tree of Life,” and it is the goal of the organization to be able to provide hope and life to people living in the Meserani region.

Thanks to generous contributors, the Bales were presented with a $4,000 gift to begin construction of a new clinic.  Since Berry Bale is also an engineer, plans were formulated and construction began quickly, using the Maasai as laborers. Nevertheless, this first influx of funds covers only about 1/3 of the total cost of construction.

The current clinic is now housing five orphans as well as caring for close to 50 patients a day. This is a project that needs to be finished, not only to provide for better and more centrally located medical care, but so that the old clinic can be transformed into an orphanage.

Mbuyu Charities sent a team of medical professional to Tanzania, please view the video’s right here.
Part 1
Part 2

The Tanzania trip was very successful, they treated over 1000 patients and one baby Elephant.

Through your support Meserani Snake Park has been able to move forward and provide the local people with a better quality of life.

Meserani Snake Park and Mbuyu Charities is greatly thankful.

Awesome stuff.

Tania Bale
African Art Online.Com

Novica in association with National Geographic has made a huge impact for many Artisan’s around the globe.

Novica was the  first-ever microfinance website where customers can purchase products and lend money directly to artisans.

Now,  into their 10th anniversary, Novica continues  helping artisans expand their businesses by providing access to microcredit.

In the Novica spirit, they cut out all the financial middlemen and took the matter into their own hands!

With no middlemen involved in the process, the Artisan’s Loans carry 0% interest.

Yes – artisans will not be charged any interest. This revolutionary concept is possible only because Novica has offices in developing nations working directly with artisans and fulfilling customer orders. Now, Novica’s offices will also serve as disbursement centers for Artisan Loans, providing artisans access to the credit that they need to grow. It’s a very exciting time.

The microfinance program is crucial to helping artisans attain funds in order to expand their crafts and workmanship.

There are a few artists from Africa that are currently involved in the microfinance program, such as Chief Carver Nana Frimpong.

Nana Frimpong was in need of more raw materials and to purchase a wood cutting machine. Nana also employs several workers, which he feels solely responsible to keep them employed.

Nana Frimpong’s loan request was for $1,000, this loan request has recently been fully funded.

A detailed list of the current microfinance loans can be found here at Novica’s Microfinance List
The list also allows people to see who has helped in funding that particular artist.

View artists from Africa, Bali, Brazil, Andes.

Even a small loan makes a great difference, helping an artist achieve
the vision they have for their business and their future.

Go check out the artists and the wonderful range of beautiful products.

I have personally purchased from Novica. A set of 6 Amethyst blown glass goblets by Javier and Efrén, from Mexico.
I’m almost to scared to use them, they are so beautiful.
Fantastic work.

Well done Novica!                  

All the best

Tania Bale
Director
African Art Online

River Goddess

Have you searched the web looking for African masks?

It’s extremely difficult to find top quality handcrafted African masks.

We’ll, your search is over.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret, I found it!
Exotic, intriguing African masks.

Do you know of Novica?

Novica works with National Geographic to offer
talented artisans around the world a place to express their artistic talents online
and provide access to the world market.

Not only will you enjoy browsing the extensive range of African masks,
There is a large selection of artifacts from all over the world.

Seriously, be warned; please take the rest of the day off work.
You won’t believe your eyes. This range of African masks
is extensive.
Pages and pages of beautifully handcrafted African masks from
Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Gabon, Congo, Benin, Nigeria and other regions.

The African mask has cultural and traditional significance within many of the native
societies on the African continent.

African masks are unique to each tribe and their shape and accessories have special
meanings to each tribe.

The mask can often symbolize religious, ceremony, celebration, funeral and honor.

Most often the masks are made from different types of wood, metal, leather, beads and
traditional fabrics.

African masks are considered amongst the finest creations in the art world, they are highly
sought after by art collectors.

Masks of Africa are particularly suitable for use in almost every room of your home or office space.

Love to hear your thoughts.        
Hear from you soon.
Tania Bale

African Art Online

Whilst in Tanzania, I meet a really cool guy, his name is John.

John is 75 years old and lives in Arusha, East Africa.
He’s a very talented man, with a special skill.

John hand crafts African Candle wax batiks.

John walks the streets from dusk till dawn, promoting and selling his African batiks to the 1000’s of tourists that pass through.
I admire his willingness at 75.

The entire process can take up to 2-3 days to complete one standard “27.5×21.5” African batik.

Firstly, John draws the design often symbolic to the African Culture, animals, faith, work, motherhood, dancing and playing traditional instruments.

The next step is to pour hot wax on the selected area’s of the fabric, this is left to dry. 
John then applies the dye to the un-waxed area.
The wax prevents the different color dye’s merging together.

No two batiks will ever be the same, as they are all hand designed.

African candle wax batiks are made from 100% cotton.

Gorgeous colors to enhance any room in your home or office.

The candle wax batiks are easily cared for.
Simply sponge down with a damp cloth, this keeps them dust free.
To keep wrinkle free, you may iron the reverse side on a very low temperature.

African batiks look fabulous framed or unframed.

I love these batiks, I’ve framed a few of the animal batiks and hung them in my children’s bedroom.
They look really cool.

Chat soon.
Tania Bale
African Art Online

Check out the selection of unique T-Shirts.

Liam Cornell has photographed the African animals in South Africa and created
these stylish T-shirts that you can wear any where any time.

A great selection of styles, sizes and colors available.

100% cotton.

If your looking for something original to stand out from the
crowd, then these are the perfect Tee Shirts for you.

How about a fabulous funky T-Shirt for family or friends.
Great gift idea.

Head over to African Art Online to select your preferred style, size and color. 

All the best
Tania Bale
African Art Online

Have you often wondered why the Elephant has a long trunk, or why a Tortoise has a broken shell… a brand new pre-school series, Tinga Tinga Tales will soon reveal all.

Each film will be told in a traditional storytelling way of how the animal came to be.

52 x 11 minute episodes due to be released in February 2010, on the television network Cbeebies UK. Produced on location in Kenya by Tiger Aspect Productions in conjunction with Homeboyz Entertainment, the show draws upon the inspiring talent of local artists and musicians and is expertly computer-animated using beautiful, hand-painted imagery.

50 African animators, illustrators, artists, designers, editors, audio technicians, production staff and musicians will bring a show together called Tinga Tinga Tales.

African Tinagtinga Art is primarily produced and sold from East Africa. The artist often paints bright, vibrant folk like animated animals. Tinga Tinga artwork originated from African artist Eduardo Saidi Tingatinga in 1960 in Tanzania. Eduardo Saidi Tingatinga was a self taught painter, with only 4 years of primary school education. He was just starting to receive recognition for his square board-paintings, when his life was cut short in 1972, Eduardo was mistaken for a fleeing thief and fatally shot by the police. Before he died he started to attracted young followers wanting to imitate his style.

That’s when the Tingtinga Arts Co-Operative Society was formed. (TACS) The Tingatinga Arts Co-operative Society in Dar es Salaam was the visual inspiration for Tinga Tinga Tales. Members of TACS have taught many artists who have gone on to become recognized masters in their field. Some painters have moved to other parts of Tanzania and even abroad. No matter where these artists reside they remain linked to each other and to their homeland by family, friendship and, of course, their beautiful artwork. Traditional Tingatinga Art is painted using bright enamel bicycle paint, making these paintings extremely hardy to last a life time. Tingatinga Art is extremely popular with tourists becoming commonly known as “Airport Art”

Children will be fascinated of how the animals came to be. Tinga Tinga Tales is an education filled with laughter and joy.

P.S Also suitable for the mature.

All the best
Tania Bale
African Art Online.Com

Nigerian artist Chidi A. Okoye  has put together a wonderful collection of limited edition famous faces on canvas.

There is a fabulous arrangement of pop art combined on one canvas.

Michael Jackson teamed up with Nelson Mandela.

Jackie Kennedy paired with Michelle Obama, awesome!

Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela extraordinary.

Other pop art includes, the gorgeous Hallie berry, Dieago Maradonna, Fala Kuti, Winnie Mandela just to name a few.

You can view the collection of pop art here

Until next time.
Smile and be happy.

Tania Bale
African Art Online

With the internet growing at a rapid pace, it is certainly very difficult to tell what is for real and what is fake.

Most reputable genuine African Art dealers will have all the information you require.

However, if you are in doubt here are a few questions you can ask to make sure you are purchasing original African Art.

If the artists name is not listed with the description then ask the dealer. Then you can google the name that has been provided to see what comes up.

Ask where the artist comes from? This can also provide extra information when you do your re- search on google or your preferred search engine.

Now let me explain why this is very important.

African Art Online.Com is receiving many emails from people in China, telling us they can duplicate or paint any picture of our choice.

Okay well that is fair enough if you would like to get yourself a lovely picture painted from China. What is not fair is people advertising genuine African Art that has been painted in China.

The paintings that are being produced in China are high quality and very beautiful. But it is not from Africa, nor is it painted buy an African Artist.

We have many artists at African Art Online that don’t necessarily live in Africa, but they sure are true blue African Artists. Some of them have just been lucky enough to have been able to attend Art school in various countries.

When your art arrives check the post code on it, hopefully it has not been shipped from China. That would be very disappointing.

Anyway be careful, ask as many questions as possible, also check the phone numbers provided and see what country code this is.

Good luck finding your authentic piece of African Art. You can be sure to find it at African Art Online.

Kind regards
Tania Bale
Managing Director
African Art Online

Have you often seen the adverts on television pledging to donate one dollar a day to help sponsor a child in a third world country?

Have you wondered if this could really make a difference? Well let me assure you it certainly does.

Please let me tell you a story of a couple named Berry &  Lynn Bale, known worldwide as Ma & BJ.

Ma & BJ run a place called Meserani Snake Park in Arusha, Tanzania, East Africa.

They provide a free medical clinic.  They treat over 1000 patients per month and rising. All free of charge.

The clinic is also home to 4 orphans, which Ma & BJ also provide for. The clinic treats a variety of issues from your common cold to the more serious issues such as snake bite victims.

On many occasions whilst living at Meserani Snake Park, BJ was called to the medical clinic to provide treatment to many snake bite victims.  Two victims where bitten by the deadly Black Mamba. It took 9 ampules of anti-venom to pull the first snake bite victim through his terrifying ordeal with the Black Mamba. This equates to $2000 US dollars to save one mans life. All treatment free of charge thanks to the medical clinic at Meserani Snake Park. You can read all about this particular event here and read the medical notes.

Your probably wondering what has all this got to do with buying African Art! Everything.

If you buy African Art from African Art Online.Com you will make a difference to help treat and save peoples lives. 10% of all proceeds from African Art Online goes back to Meserani Snake Park to help towards medical treatment and supplies.

Let me also mention the snake park is in the process of building a knew medical clinic, bigger to accommodate more patients. Funding is a big thing and every penny helps.

If you buy African Art from African Art Online.Com you will also help the fine talented  artists in Africa provide for themselves and their families.  You will feel great every time you look at your very special original piece of African Art.

All the best to you and yours.

Oil on Canvas

Kind Regards
Tania Bale
African Art Online

P.S. Over 600 African Art Pieces all backed by my personal 60 Day Money Back Guarantee.