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My grand-father Louis Dubail spent most of his life in East Africa, the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti and India. Fascinated with these countries he imported teas and coffees to Switzerland and France. After having been forced to pay taxes not only to the Ethiopian tribal princes but to the British as well to trade his coffee exports via Mombasa, he decided to finance the building of what would become the first railroad in Africa: the line from Addis-Abbeba to Djibouti. This historic line is still running today. This story that was told to me many times over when a child is the inspiration behind my line of Voodoo Dolls called the Gens du Cafe (the Coffee People).
JAVA LEGBA (TM) is the Ancient Wisdom that comes to those who have lived a long life and have learnt to savor each moment like a delicious cup of strong black coffee, drop by drop. Knowing that the richness and the smoothness and the bitterness must all be there in one to make it right. He wakes us up to age-old customs and distills within us humor and enthusiasm for the new day tempered by knowledge and wisdom.
EXU ESPRESSO!!! (TM)Oh, he¹s a wild one. He¹s jump-start your day and gives you an immediate lift. But watch out you don¹t get carried away. He¹s as apt to open up the roads for you as to make you skip right down the wrong path, unheeding of the dangers. He will not tolerate that you don¹t give him the respect he wishes. So take your time, inhale the aroma and let the taste linger on the tongue. Give him praise and he¹ll serve you well and open all barriers so your day can move forward with success.
Z'ENFANTS CAFE (Coffee Kids) (TM): Boy and Girl. They are replicas of the Marassa Twins of the Voodoo pantheon that bring you good luck and all things happy and fun during the day. In Yoruba they are known as the Ibejis, the twin sons of Chango and among Voodoos there is a high incidence of twins. So they¹ll bring you fertility too , if that¹s your wish. Definitely they are for those who always need two cups rather than one. They also reminds us that all things must be kept in balance, that life has ups and downs and that we need always keep our sense of humor, take time out to play and look upon each other as brothers and sisters.
QUEEN ARABICA (TM): Dark and beautiful, she is the undisputed Queen. Enjoy a song and dance with her and she¹ll bring you abundance, love, passion.. Share some leisurely moments with her, she wouldn¹t want to be rushed. Make her your mistress and love her beyond all others and she will make your life very interesting indeed. She lives there where there is a perfume and taste of vanilla or cinnamon or almond or orange....
ROBUSTO OGUN (TM): Ok, so he¹s not as subtle or aromatic or flavorful. But if you simply mean to get going and get things accomplished and make a move and knock a few projects, he¹s your man. Stong-willed and determined and straightforward, he believes in the power of good work well done, of physical effort and energy expanded on a worthy task. He¹ll bring you good work and the rewards that come with a task well done.
CAPPUCINO CHANGO (TM): Chango was once a king of Africa. Upon his death , so loved was he that he was elevated to a Voodoo Loa (Spirit). Chango is in the finest, richest, most alluring and enticing of everything. He is topped with his crown, like your cup of the richest Java is topped with a foaming milk crown. If you want to really rule though the day and make your mark, he¹s the one for you.
MOCHACCINO YEMAYA (TM): She comforts, revives and rewards us with abundance, envelops us in her sweetness, and provide us with nurturing, love and wealth. The great Godess of Oceans and Seas, Yemanja is particularly fond of chocolate.. rich, strong and sweet. This doll speaks of this pleasure offered to her and then shared...
Collect all eight dolls and set them in your kitchen, den, study, patio, anywhere you linger with that first (and second and third) cup of coffee in the morning or anytime during the day... They¹ll serve to remind you of the many purposes of life and how that wonderful ancient roasted bean being an essentail ingredient to uncover the many paths of magic..
The inspiraration for these unique Voodoo Dolls may go back to the turn of the century East Africa, but the present idea was given to me by Catherine of THE COFFEE BEAN CAFE, Main St. Buffalo, NY. So if you happen to pass by Buffalo, for a moment or for a spell, make sure you go and have a cuppa at the New Orleans style Cafe and see my dolls there.
Choose from:
JAVA LEGBA - EXU XPRESSO!!! - Z'ENFANTS CAFE (boy or girl) - QUEEN
ARABICA - ROBUSTO OGUN - CAPPUCCINO CHANGO - MOCHACCINO YEMANJA
Each $25.00
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