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1<br />
CEO’s <strong>Foreword</strong><br />
On behalf of the <strong>Safaricom</strong> family I’d like to welcome you to the ‘Eco-<br />
Art: Zebra in the Red Heels Exhibition’. This will be the first exhibition<br />
to be featured at the Michael Joseph Centre (MJC) this year.<br />
This exhibition’s objective is to showcase and promote the symbol of the<br />
“Zebra in the Red Heels” where art and conservation of the environment<br />
can be merged and portrayed as one. In essence, help fuse the artist and<br />
conservationist in us. We hope that hosting this exhibition at <strong>Safaricom</strong><br />
will create a bigger impact and harness more environmental awareness<br />
within the corporate world and the community as a whole.<br />
The exhibition aims to use art as a corporate “badge” indicating a<br />
company’s involvement in helping the environment thus promoting<br />
both the artists and the environment. We envision individuals and<br />
companies purchasing and displaying art pieces that acknowledge<br />
their environmental contribution and thus buy art for the sake of the<br />
environment.<br />
Bella MATATA Consultancy conceived the idea of Zebra in the Red<br />
Heels - together with other artists they were able to create exquisite art<br />
pieces around this theme. These artists include painters, weavers, glass<br />
and flip-flop sculptors, and jua-kali artisans. Bella MATATA has been<br />
hosting art exhibitions to promote tree-planting projects across East<br />
Africa for the past 6 years.<br />
A unique feature of Zebra in the Red Heels Exhibition will be the<br />
incorporation of <strong>Safaricom</strong> and other partners who will mobilize<br />
resources for tree planting projects after the exhibition. Our pledge as<br />
<strong>Safaricom</strong> is for every art piece sold at this exhibition, we will plant 100<br />
trees. I am proud to note as well that for each piece sold, the artistes have<br />
pledged 10% of the proceeds towards planting trees.<br />
Our hope is that more individuals and companies will join in and pledge<br />
towards this initiative.<br />
<strong>Safaricom</strong> values and supports the unique contribution these artists<br />
have made to the conservation of Kenya’s threatened environment.<br />
Zebra in the Red Heels is a collection of striking artistic works from<br />
different artists who draw their inspiration from the environment and<br />
techniques that use recycled materials to produce the pieces to tell the<br />
stories in contemporary forms.<br />
We hope you will enjoy and appreciate the creative ‘green art’ concept<br />
designs used in this exhibition.<br />
Bob Collymore,<br />
CEO
The Michael Joseph Centre<br />
“Understanding art is understanding our world and promoting art is<br />
building a better world.”<br />
The Michael Joseph Centre opened its doors in May 2010 as one of<br />
<strong>Safaricom</strong>’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, in supporting<br />
the arts and preserving our local culture.<br />
Our mission is to offer a platform for local artists of all genres and the<br />
immediate community to communicate through events and exhibitions.<br />
Through the Centre, <strong>Safaricom</strong> provides a space where this local creative<br />
talent is nurtured, showcased and supported.<br />
The Michael Joseph Centre has carved its niche in the art scene by<br />
initiating a selection of events and exhibitions that promote artists of<br />
all disciplines. In addition, the Centre has been able to form long lasting<br />
relationships with not only other art-supporting institutions, but also<br />
with corporate partners by graciously hosting events such as visual art<br />
exhibitions, music concerts, theatrical plays, student visits, workshops,<br />
product launches, forums and campaigns.<br />
The Centre comprises of four functional areas:<br />
1. The CSR Space which is home to the permanent Spirit of Sharing<br />
Exhibition. It is here that <strong>Safaricom</strong>’s Corporate Social Responsibility<br />
activities through both <strong>Safaricom</strong> Limited and <strong>Safaricom</strong> Foundation<br />
are showcased.<br />
2. The Art Event and Exhibition Space hosts a number of<br />
temporary events and exhibitions that run at any given time. In the past,<br />
we have hosted exhibitions and events that promote and engage lovers<br />
of music, fashion, animation, performance.<br />
Since the MJC opened its doors in 2010, we have had 6 exhibitions<br />
which have captured a diverse range of the world of arts and culture.<br />
They are:<br />
• Islands of Creativity<br />
• Style it Hot<br />
• Shujaaz FM<br />
• 10 Years of <strong>Safaricom</strong> Exhibition<br />
• The VITI Exhibition<br />
• Alter Ego Exhibition<br />
In June, 2011 we launched Project Sanaa. Some children never realise<br />
their natural artistic ability as they do not have an opportunity to<br />
explore and exploit their talents. <strong>Safaricom</strong>’s Project Sanaa (“sanaa”<br />
means “arts” in Kiswahili) is designed to enhance the skills of artistically<br />
inclined children who are less privileged. The art classes are held every<br />
two Saturdays of the month.<br />
3. Experience Centre: The Technology Space Exhibition takes you<br />
on a journey of the evolution of mobile telephony. Within this space,<br />
you are exposed to some of the latest products and services offered by<br />
<strong>Safaricom</strong> e.g. Phones, Technology, etc.<br />
4. TelePrescence Room: The TelePresence Room uses the<br />
TelePresence solution to enable users to connect with colleagues,<br />
customers and partners across many locations in a way that makes the<br />
meeting participants feel like they are in the same room.<br />
Some of the key benefits include:<br />
• Reducing travel and entertainment costs<br />
• Increasing employee productivity time<br />
• Promoting “green behaviour” by reducing carbon emissions<br />
Location and Hours<br />
The Michael Joseph Centre is located on the ground floor of the<br />
<strong>Safaricom</strong> HQ2 Building located next to the Aga Khan High School<br />
off Waiyaki Way. Operational hours are Monday through Friday from<br />
9:00am. to 5:00pm. and Saturdays 9.00am to 1.00pm. It is closed on<br />
Sundays and public holidays. The Centre is open to the general public.<br />
2
3<br />
Imagine.<br />
Imagine a world with no trees.<br />
Imagine a world with no beauty.<br />
Imagine a world where we could not breathe.<br />
Imagine a world with no you, no me.<br />
Art, since time immemorial has been used to communicate different<br />
ideas, campaign for different causes and created awareness around<br />
various issues.<br />
In this exhibition, Eco-Art in a general sense is the art that helps<br />
improve our relationship with the natural world. It is where we get to<br />
use creativity to expand consciousness in society for a more healthy<br />
ecology.<br />
Imagining a world without trees is imagining a world that is<br />
uninhabitable. The uses of trees are countless. Shade, shelter, protection,<br />
medicine, oxygen supply, roots for stability, nutrition and more<br />
importantly to help curb the current issue of global warming.<br />
It may seem like a long journey but like every “journey of a thousand<br />
miles, starts with a single step!”<br />
Let’s take a stand today! Help protect and conserve the environment we<br />
live in.<br />
Introduction
Zebra in the Red Heels<br />
Kenya Wildlife is just all that<br />
Pink, stripy, spotty and great<br />
Where in the world do you find such jovial beasts<br />
They really do deserve a crown…they deserve,<br />
wings, bling or even red things.<br />
Infact they deserve it all.<br />
But what they really need is trees,<br />
So for every artwork sold, <strong>Safaricom</strong> promises to<br />
plant 100 trees..<br />
The Zebra in the Red Heels poems and exhibitions have largely been<br />
influenced by the Dr Seuss books, which told meaningful stories using<br />
wacky animals.<br />
The first exhibition by Bella MATATA, featured King Elephants in<br />
Crowns, Princess Pink Flamingos, spotted Giraffes wearing ‘bling’ and<br />
of course the Zebras in the Red Heels. Over time, the other characters<br />
have branched off to “do their own things”, the crowned elephants now<br />
promote the use of the African honey bee as a crop raiding, elephant<br />
deterrent in remote farm areas, and they have their own “show” called<br />
the “the Truth about Bees and Elephants”.<br />
The Lady Giraffe in bling exhibits herself in Giraffe Manor raising<br />
awareness for the urban living Rothschild giraffes and the Princess<br />
Flamingos adorn many a dream of a young child.<br />
The Zebras in the Red Heels, then became the symbolic ambassadors<br />
for the Bella MATATA tree planting exhibitions which have thus far<br />
been held in Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Switzerland<br />
and the United Kingdom, over the past 6 years. For every Zebra in the<br />
Red Heels art piece sold, Bella MATATA planted 5 trees with forestry<br />
company, Africa Forest. <strong>Safaricom</strong> has partnered with Bella MATATA<br />
and together with their sexy, sassy Zebra are initiating a movement to<br />
take the concept to a new level, involving 12 artists and pledging to plant<br />
trees for every artwork sold.<br />
Art is a fantastic medium to promote environmental issues as it is not<br />
restrictive - this freedom allows for artists to indulge in passions that<br />
they believe in. Art is very much about the story behind the work, the<br />
passion that drives the creativity, and what better issue to be passionate<br />
about, than the environment in which we create our art. You can also<br />
play your part by buying a piece of art that reminds you that you<br />
contributed to the planting of trees through the purchase of an exquisite<br />
art piece.<br />
Should you want to be part of this movement kindly find a pledge form<br />
at the back of our catalogue and be part of this journey.<br />
4
5<br />
Kenya’s Role in Conservation<br />
Before any discussion on forest cover, one needs to define what a ‘forest’<br />
is. There is a range of global definitions from 10% tree cover (FAO) to<br />
40% (UNEP) to 70% (dense closed canopy forest, e.g. rainforest). The<br />
commonly quoted figure for Kenya of 1.7% forest cover (0.98 million<br />
hectares) taken from a UNEP survey released in 2001, refers to a<br />
minimum of 40% tree cover in gazetted forest reserves. As such, the<br />
quoted number does not include forests on private land, trust land or<br />
local authority forests.<br />
Whilst there have been many tree planting initiatives in Kenya, there is<br />
still a long way to go. A lot more needs to be done; to achieve 10% forest<br />
cover, we need to plant approximately 4.5 million hectares, which is an<br />
area more than ten times the size of the Mau complex. At 1,600 trees<br />
a hectare, that makes 7.2 billion trees, nearly 200 trees for every man,<br />
woman and child in Kenya, or 600 for every registered voter!<br />
One of the challenges with current tree planting initiatives is the<br />
aftercare. A tree needs to be tended to, maintained and watered, for at<br />
least the first three years of its life, otherwise it is likely to either grow<br />
very slowly, or die. It is of paramount importance that anyone planning<br />
to plant a tree bears this in mind and factors it into their costs. It is better<br />
to plant just one tree and really look after it, than to plant 10 and they<br />
all die!<br />
The 2005 Forest Act was a big step forward in Kenya, which created:<br />
The Kenya Forest Service<br />
Introduction of new innovations, most notable that of ‘Participatory<br />
Forest Management’ (PFM) whereby the importance of the communities<br />
surrounding the forest and their involvement in the management of the<br />
Forest has been identified and acknowledged, leading to the creation of<br />
Community Forest Associations (CFA’s.)<br />
Many of these types of associations have now been formed and this<br />
promises a new era in the management of forest resources. Bearing in<br />
mind the need for 4.5 million hectares of tree cover, one of the most<br />
promising areas to achieve this in, is farm forestry, or tree planting<br />
within private shambas. The Ministry of Agriculture issued the Farm<br />
Forestry Rules in 2009. This states that all agricultural land must have<br />
10% forest cover so as to help mitigate global warming, soak up pollution<br />
and dust from the air and build natural habitats and ecosystems. This is<br />
an excellent piece of legislation, as it will actually assist rural families by<br />
reducing time spent collecting firewood, assist in reducing soil erosion<br />
and improve soil fertility if the right trees are planted.<br />
The new constitution has enshrined that “the state will work to achieve<br />
and maintain a tree cover of at least ten percent of the land area of<br />
Kenya.” It has not specified a deadline for this, but 10% forest cover is<br />
also part of the Kenya Vision 2030 pledge.
A Billion Trees for Kenya<br />
The world is facing a global crisis that requires its citizens to pay<br />
attention and take action. Planting and growing trees is easy. Everybody<br />
can plant trees, young and old, rich and poor, rural and urban, but we<br />
need to act fast. If every Global citizen could plant 150 trees between<br />
now and 2020, this would add up to a trillion trees. In the last six years,<br />
the Billion Tree Campaign has planted 12.6 billion trees.<br />
In 2006, the UNEP launched the Billion Tree Campaign, where the late<br />
Professor Wangari Maathai; or Mama Miti as she was fondly called,<br />
and H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco were appointed as the Patrons<br />
of the campaign. It seemed like a monumental task then, but very soon,<br />
Kenya took on the challenge and this was a proud moment for Wangari<br />
Maathai, as Kenya would now contribute towards the Billion Tree<br />
Campaign<br />
Kenyans and the world remember and admire Mama Miti for her<br />
courage, dedication and devotion to growing forests. Her vision to<br />
grow forests using a community based approach and to mitigate against<br />
nature resource depletion and climate change have become rallying<br />
calls in Kenya and globally.<br />
About Plant-for-the-Planet<br />
On 7 December 2011 UNEP handed over the mandate of the Billion<br />
Tree Campaign to the Plant for the Planet Foundation. The Foundation<br />
is now in-charge of managing all aspects of the campaign with UNEP<br />
and the Founding partners remaining on the advisory council.<br />
The Plant-for-the-Planet Children Initiative was founded in January<br />
2007 and originated in a school report on the climate crisis by Felix<br />
Finkbeiner, President of the Global Board of the Plant for the Planet<br />
Foundation, who was 9 years old at that time. At the end of his<br />
presentation, Felix put forward the vision that children could plant one<br />
million trees in every country in the world to balance carbon emissions.<br />
In the years that followed, Plant-for-the-Planet evolved into a global<br />
movement. Today, some 100,000 children in 101 countries are<br />
committed to its goal. The movement understands its role as being an<br />
initiative of world citizens who are committed to climate justice in the<br />
sense of achieving an overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and<br />
a unified distribution of these emissions among all of humankind.<br />
In March 2011, the new Global Board was elected. It consists of 14<br />
children from 8 countries. The term of office is one year, no re-election<br />
possible. The next election date is April 20th, 2012. The worldwide<br />
communication campaign of the children initiative is headed “Stop<br />
talking. Start planting” and was awarded with the Social Effie in gold for<br />
efficient communication in 2010.<br />
Plant-for-the-Planet is supported through the Global Marshall Plan<br />
Foundation, the AVINA Stiftung, the Club of Rome and Leagas Delaney<br />
Hamburg. Partners like Toyota, Develey Senf & Feinkost, FedEx, Hess<br />
Natur, L’Oréal Professionnel, Lehmann Natur and Starmix Academies.<br />
One of the countries to attain the one million trees goal is Germany<br />
which did this on May 4th 2010 – the children in Germany continue to<br />
plant trees.<br />
By December 2011, the Billion Tree Campaign registered over 12 billion<br />
trees planted by participants across all 193 United Nations Member States.<br />
For this and more information on this and other initiatives log on to<br />
www.plant-for-the-planet.org.<br />
6
9<br />
TOTAL ECO Challenge<br />
A Campaign for the People of the People<br />
The “Total Eco Challenge” is an initiative that has been running in<br />
Kenya for the past ten years. It engages every man, woman and child<br />
in Kenya in the country’s biggest-ever tree-planting initiative. The Total<br />
Eco Challenge has set a planting target of 100 million trees per year.<br />
Every year, this initiative calls on the public themselves to take direct<br />
action and backs that call with practical help. Every Total station has<br />
become a tree centre for information and seedling supply.<br />
Some of the Eco Challenge’s direct input in community projects include:<br />
• National promotion and multi-media public education campaigns<br />
• Production and distribution of information materials<br />
• Direct technical support for projects through a full-time forester<br />
• Matching corporate funding to community needs<br />
• Support for tree / seedling nurseries,<br />
• An awards system which includes the appointment of Trees<br />
Ambassadors<br />
The programme is exploring the possibility of establishing seed<br />
banks. Total has been using television, radio and the national<br />
press, to disseminate information on, how to collect and propagate<br />
seeds, how to plant better and nurture faster tree growth, the<br />
best locations to grow trees and special qualities of different tree<br />
species. Total also brings together economically challenged rural<br />
communities who have the will and the land, but not the money for<br />
major tree-planting, as well the as city corporations who have the<br />
financial resources, but not the manpower.<br />
Their overall message has been on the value of trees, and all<br />
action has been aimed at stimulating real market forces that will<br />
create independent and sustainable capacities. Communities and<br />
institutions have registered more than 5000 Total Eco Challenge<br />
projects, and by the seventh year had planted more than 100<br />
million trees. These projects cut across different economic and<br />
geographical zones, in town and in the countryside, in school<br />
grounds and industrial factory yards, around dams and along rivers,<br />
between crops and along fence lines and even in desert locations.<br />
Additionally, the groups involved have been very diverse ranging<br />
from individuals to arms of the government such as the Kenya<br />
Armed Forces.<br />
However, there is still room for growth. This is an initiative that<br />
bears no political agenda or linkage, it is entirely voluntary, and<br />
although the Eco Challenge brings input and focus, each registered<br />
project is independently managed and owned.<br />
<strong>Safaricom</strong> was awarded the Champion of Champions Award at the<br />
2011 Total Eco Challenge Awards.
Fun facts on trees<br />
Rare, unique and endangered species<br />
Is Kenya a “green” desert? Are we aware that Kenya has over 2,000 plant species and we as Kenyans use an average of 10 plant species in most of our<br />
lifetimes? Displayed here are some of our very own, unique and endangered species that we should cherish and protect.<br />
As you will discover, these plants touch on some of the key elements of human life; health, nutrition, energy and ecological infrastructure.<br />
10
11<br />
Bridelia micrantha<br />
Bridelia<br />
A semi-deciducous tree, with tiny light yellow<br />
flowers and dark glossy black fruit, up to<br />
12m tall in Kenya, 20m in other areas of sub-<br />
Saharan-African, where it is wide-spread, from<br />
0 to 2,200m. It mostly grows in riverine forest,<br />
swamp forests and forest edge; it has good<br />
potential for reforestation of river reserves,<br />
as it has a binding root structure, and is fast<br />
growing. Bridelia’s excellent hardwood timber<br />
has resulted in over exploitation of the tree.<br />
The fruits are edible, tasting like currants, and a<br />
red dye can be made from the bark. Both roots<br />
and bark can be used medicinally for stomach<br />
aches, tapeworms and also as a general tonic.<br />
Cordia africana<br />
Cordia<br />
A much branched deciduous tree, with<br />
many small white flowers and large round,<br />
sandpapery leaves, 4-15m tall. It is widespread<br />
across sub-Saharan Africa, from 500m to<br />
2,200m. Lovely as an ornamental tree, it also<br />
provides mulch, shade and bee forage, and the<br />
leaves can be used as fodder for livestock in<br />
the dry season. The wood is much prized for<br />
furniture and also to make ndiri, the traditional<br />
mortar, and Mwatu, traditional beehives.<br />
Fruits are sweet and edible and can be used to<br />
heal a dry cough, and the fresh juicy bark is<br />
used to set broken bones. Root decoctions are<br />
drunk to treat jaundice and schistosomiasis.<br />
Calodendrum Capense<br />
Cape Chestnut<br />
A beautiful tree, especially when in full bloom,<br />
with showy pink flowers, a wide spreading<br />
crown, between 15m to 25m tall. Found in<br />
Kenya and Uganda in the north where it grows<br />
at altitudes of 1,200m to 2,300m down to the<br />
Western Coastal Cape area in South Africa. Its<br />
non-invasive root system make it an excellent<br />
ornamental tree and it will grow quite happily<br />
in black cotton soil. The seed produces a yellow<br />
oil, also known as yangu oil, which can be used<br />
as a cosmetic oil. The bark is used in South<br />
Africa as a skin whitener. Colobus monkeys<br />
are particularly fond of the young leaf shoots<br />
and fruits.
Newtonia buchananii<br />
Newtonia<br />
A tall deciduous forest tree, from 15m to<br />
40m, with lovely feathery foliage, it is often<br />
planted as an ornamental tree, and makes good<br />
shade for tea and coffee. It occurs naturally in<br />
lowland and upland rainforests and riverine<br />
forests at altitudes of 600m to 2,200m. As part<br />
of the Leguminosae family, it also fixes<br />
nitrogen, and provides mulch and fodder,<br />
in addition to being good bee forage. It is a<br />
useful tree for planting on river reserves to<br />
help stabilise river banks. The red-brown heart<br />
wood is often used for making canoes on Lake<br />
Victoria and also for cabinet making.<br />
Prunus africana<br />
Red Stinkwood - African Cherry<br />
A tall evergreen tree of 25m height, with<br />
dark green glossy leaves, small white fragrant<br />
flowers and small, dark red fruit. Found across<br />
sub Saharan-Africa in highland forests, from<br />
1,500m to 2,300m, Prunus is part of the genus<br />
that includes peaches, apricots, cherries and<br />
almonds. It has a strong durable timber with a<br />
dark red colour. The tree has been threatened<br />
in many parts of Africa due to over harvesting<br />
of the bark for the pharmaceutical industry<br />
where it is used in a drug for the treatment of<br />
enlarged prostate glands. However the leaves<br />
also contain valuable medicine, acting as a<br />
blood vessel dilator thus increasing cellular<br />
oxygen levels. It has been drunk as tea by<br />
Africans for centuries.<br />
Syzygium guineense<br />
Guinea Waterberry<br />
A medium to tall densely leaved evergreen<br />
forest tree, usually 10m - 15m tall but can grow<br />
up to 30m. Widely spread across Africa, it is<br />
found from 0 to 2,100m, in medium to high<br />
rainfall areas.<br />
It has edible fruit, purple-black in colour,<br />
related to the Jambolan, which are sold in the<br />
markets in Kenya. Syzygium has excellent red<br />
brown wood, with a wide variety of uses. The<br />
bark can be used both for tanning and dying<br />
(black), as well as to glaze pottery, the leaves<br />
are good fodder, and the flowers good bee<br />
forage. Medicinally, it has a wide range of uses,<br />
from curing stomach aches to malaria and<br />
infertility. The main part used is the roots and<br />
stem bark, with some uses of leaves and fruit,<br />
as the main bark can be poisonous.<br />
12
13<br />
Dalbergia melanoxylon<br />
African Blackwood - Mpingo<br />
A spiny, many-branched shrub or small tree,<br />
up to 8m tall, with small sweetly scented white<br />
flowers and small pods. It can be found across<br />
Saharan and sub-Saharan Africa, at altitudes<br />
from sea level to 1,300m and is well suited to<br />
semi-arid areas. Mpingo is the national tree<br />
of Tanzania and is also known as the music<br />
tree, as its wood is used for making oboes and<br />
clarinets, as well as in the carving industry. It<br />
has a distinctive dark purple heart wood, with<br />
a pale yellow sapwood. It is also known as<br />
African ebony, though it is not the true ebony.<br />
The wood can fetch up to $18,000 per cubic<br />
metre. The bark decoction is used for cleaning<br />
wounds and the leaves to relieve joint pain.<br />
Juniperus procera<br />
East African Pencil Cedar<br />
A handsome tall evergreen tree, up to 40m,<br />
which used to be widespread across the<br />
highlands of Kenya, mostly at altitudes of<br />
1,500m to 3,000m, but it can grow from<br />
1,050m to 3,500m. Due to it’s termite<br />
resistance and durable properties which make<br />
it valuable timber for building and fencing<br />
posts, (posts can last in the ground for well<br />
over 150 years) as well as its original use for<br />
the wood in pencils, it’s natural stands have<br />
been over exploited. Cedar makes an excellent<br />
plantation tree and replanting en mass should<br />
be encouraged. Cedar oil (from the wood or<br />
leaves) is an excellent insect and rat repellent<br />
and also has potential as an organic treatment<br />
for other timber.<br />
Olea europaea ssp africana<br />
African Wild Olive<br />
An evergreen tree, with grey-green foliage and<br />
a rounded crown, 10m to 15m tall, it grows<br />
across eastern and southern Africa at altitudes<br />
of 750m to 3,000m. Olive can grow up to 1m<br />
a year but it is browsed by both animals for<br />
fodder and people for toothbrushes, so it is<br />
often misrepresented as a slow growing tree.<br />
Olive has many uses, the hardwood durable<br />
timber is much prized, for furniture, turning,<br />
cabinet making and carvings, the fruit is edible<br />
although too small for commercial olive or oil<br />
production, it also provides many<br />
environmental services. Possibly the biggest<br />
potential for olive is medicine as the leaf has<br />
strong immune system boosting properties.
Vitex keniensis<br />
Meru Oak<br />
A handsome deciduous tall straight forest tree,<br />
up to 35m tall, with distinctive palmate (five<br />
leaflets shaped like a hand) leaves. It naturally<br />
occurs on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya,<br />
in the Meru area, from 1,300m to 2,100m, but<br />
has also been used as a plantation species in<br />
other areas, due to the high quality and value<br />
of the timber and the fast growth rate.<br />
The small black fruits are edible and taste like a<br />
cross between a plum and a date. Fruits from 2<br />
related species, Vitex doniana and Vitex agnuscastus<br />
act on the pituitary gland as hormone<br />
regulators and may assist in infertility. It is<br />
possible the Meru Oak fruit shares these<br />
properties.<br />
Vangueria madagascariensis<br />
Common Wild Medlar<br />
A deciduous many-branched shrub or small<br />
tree, 2m to 15m tall, with large velvety leaves.<br />
It grows across sub-Saharan Africa, at altitudes<br />
of 0 to 2,450m. The fruits when ripe are brown<br />
in colour and grooved like a pumpkin. They<br />
have a soft edible pulp, the taste resembling<br />
chocolate, which can also be used to flavour<br />
beer. The tree makes good bee forage and<br />
fodder. Wood is used for small implements as<br />
well as a source of firewood. Both leaves and<br />
roots are used medicinally for treatment of<br />
intestinal worms and malaria.<br />
Warburgia ugandensis<br />
East African Greenheart - Muthiga<br />
A hardy evergreen tree growing to 25m with<br />
dark glossy green leaves and rounded green<br />
fruit, Warburgia can grow from 100m to<br />
2,400m, but is most common between 1,000m<br />
and 2,000m. Also known as the pepper<br />
bark tree, the bark, leaves and fruit have a<br />
strong chilli-like flavour and can be used as a<br />
substitute for chilli in cooking. All those parts<br />
also have strong antibiotic activity and can be<br />
used as an alternative to antibiotics, even to<br />
treat tick bite fever. The Maasai drink it as a tea<br />
to reduce cholesterol levels. It’s Kikuyu name,<br />
Muthiga, was mistakenly pronounced and<br />
spelt as Muthaiga by the British colonialists<br />
hence the name used as an area of Nairobi!<br />
14
17<br />
Dominique Thoenes<br />
Dominique Thoenes is an environmental artist. With art<br />
experience spanning more than ten years as a professional,<br />
she has exhibited in Cape Town, New Zealand, India,<br />
Zambia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Nigeria, England,<br />
Spain and the USA. She also has a fresh, funky and ethical<br />
clothing label ‘Bella MATATA’.<br />
All her exhibitions contribute to the environment or spread<br />
an environmental message. In past exhibitions, she has<br />
worked with The Africa Forest Nursery in Elementaita for<br />
her “Zebra in the Red Heels” exhibitions where she plants<br />
5 trees for every piece sold. This concept has been taken<br />
corporate as she partnered up with <strong>Safaricom</strong> to host this<br />
exhibition called “Zebra in the Red heels” at the Michael<br />
Joseph Centre, <strong>Safaricom</strong>. She and other environmentally<br />
passionate, talented, Kenyan artists have created art pieces<br />
with the theme “Zebra in the Red High Heels” made from<br />
different materials including recycled materials.<br />
Dominique also curates marine awareness exhibitions<br />
called “Bikini Clad Fish”. In these exhibitions she has all her<br />
frames created from ocean debris, mostly flip flops that are<br />
washed up on the beaches. She is now working with a local<br />
Diani artist on this project.<br />
Another ongoing show that she has held in Kenya and<br />
Zambia is called “The Truth About Bees and Elephants”.<br />
This particular exhibition promotes the use of bee hive<br />
fencing to keep elephants from raiding farm lands, thus<br />
helping curb the vast human/wildlife conflicts, in this case;<br />
elephant conflicts in North Kenya and else where.
Dominique has traveled the world extensively, and has left murals in different locations around the<br />
world. She is currently studying online at “The Green College” to gain a diploma in environmental<br />
studies and carbon analysis.<br />
Dominique has painted “Large Lady Zebras” for the show: they are black, they are white, they are sassy<br />
and they show a sexy side to being environmentally proactive. The works are framed using recycled<br />
wood salvaged from building sites.<br />
bellamatata@gmail.com<br />
Facebook page: Dominique Thoenes<br />
18
19<br />
Andrew McNaughton<br />
Andrew was born in Benghazi, Libya in 1950. He is a<br />
passionate naturalist and lives in Watamu where he has<br />
developed a wide range of beguiling fine art and functional<br />
pieces. His art pieces are entirely made from marine debris,<br />
in the form of found recycled or sustainable objects mostly<br />
collected from beaches and river inlets fuelled from the<br />
Indian Ocean. Andrew attended Hill School Eldoret for<br />
his primary education, went on to Duke of York School of<br />
Nairobi after which he attended Berkshire College of Art<br />
studying Production Design for four years. In the last 30<br />
years, he has engaged in interior design projects both in<br />
the UK and Nairobi; however all of his projects have always<br />
contained elements of fine art.<br />
All Andrew’s creations are environmentally sound and<br />
are fabricated from materials found in the Malindi area of<br />
Kenya. He creates his pieces from his workshop at his home<br />
in Watamu and he also mentors several local carpenters<br />
who are dedicated to each of his pieces. He uses seemingly<br />
unlikely items, such as toothbrushes; flip flops, bottle tops<br />
as well as natural materials. Andrew is a leading member<br />
of Watamu Marine Association, a community development<br />
and marine conservation organisation based on the north<br />
coast of Kenya and assists their work in teaching the<br />
community and local children on methods of recycling<br />
marine debris and other found items.<br />
Andrew is also a major contributor to the growing global<br />
network of marine debris artists. In March 2011, he<br />
attended the 5th International Marine Debris Conference<br />
in Honolulu and exhibited his work, which demonstrated<br />
to the audience of scientists, policy makers and artists the<br />
powerful message of art in combating the threats of plastic<br />
pollution and promoting marine conservation. A highlight<br />
of the event was Andrew presenting a flip-flop guitar to<br />
celebrated folk singer, writer, and conservationist Jack<br />
Johnson.<br />
Andrew’s Zebra in Red Heels contribution is named<br />
“Shakin’ that Ass”. He has used Capok wood, flip flops and<br />
Aluminum to create this funky, dance floor inspired piece.<br />
Andrew encourages those with aptitude to create their<br />
own works. You will find examples of his recent artwork,<br />
some traditionally done and others using new methods of<br />
creation on his website: www.andrew-mcnaughton.com.<br />
The Watamu Marine Association www.watamu.biz and<br />
Facebook page:<br />
www.facebook.com/pages/Watamu-Marine-<br />
Association/275519980370
21<br />
Cyrus Kabiru<br />
Cyrus Kabiru is a self taught painter and sculptor who<br />
currently practices in Nairobi. His paintings are often<br />
humorous portrayals of contemporary living within Kenya<br />
as he adopts the role of flâneur, the observer, explorer,<br />
and lounger by using his paintings as the output for his<br />
experiences.HeisperhapsbestknownforhisC-STUNNERS<br />
where he creates and wears artistic bifocals. The work sits<br />
itself between fashionable, wearable art, performance and<br />
one of a kind commodity objects. C-STUNNERS have<br />
a certain energy and playfulness that really captures the<br />
sensibility and attitude of a youth generation in Nairobi.<br />
They portray the aspiration of pop culture bling; they<br />
reflect the ingenuity and resourcefulness of people; the<br />
lenses provide a new filter giving a fresh perspective onto<br />
the world that we live in, transforming the wearer not only<br />
in appearance, but in mind frame as well.<br />
Kabiru’s sculptural work also embodies his role as a<br />
“collector” of Nairobi cast offs. He fashions and re-fashions<br />
waste, recycled and found materials into various art pieces.<br />
He is currently focusing on a series that depicts African<br />
nature using thousands of bottle caps sewn together.<br />
Cyrus has created his “Mongolian Zebra” for the exhibition,<br />
it is constructed from recycled wire and bottle tops, this<br />
Zebra is portable, with an easy to carry handle.
25<br />
Dennis Muraguri<br />
Dennis Muraguri has a Diploma in Painting and History<br />
of Art. He graduated top of his class from the Buruburu<br />
Institute of Fine Arts, Nairobi – Kenya, class of 2000-2003.<br />
Muraguri is a fine artist whose paintings are best described<br />
as being both fantasy and surrealistic. The message of<br />
Muraguri’s work is positive and reflective, it tells the story<br />
that Africa is no longer the dark continent but rapidly<br />
modernizing and is highly doing this by technology.<br />
Muraguri finds inspiration for his paintings and sculptures<br />
in globalization: “Everything that comes from outside is<br />
interesting.”<br />
The different colors on his work create a dreamlike<br />
effect. His sculptures are merely representations of the<br />
industrialization in Kenya and most of them are inspired<br />
by music. Muraguri has aptly named his sculpture-style<br />
“music today”.<br />
All sculptures are mixed media; wood and metal are<br />
combined. Metal representing the people who manufacture<br />
all kinds of things and on the other side is the wood, which<br />
symbolizes the natural side of life. Muraguri gets inspiration<br />
for his paintings from the paint itself and by the images he<br />
encounters everyday. Most of Muraguri’s work is concerned<br />
with political and social matters.<br />
Dennis chose to abstract the idea of the Zebra in the Red<br />
heels. He has worked with recycled objects to create his<br />
piece entitled “Stop Sign”, where he has played with the idea<br />
of a Zebra crossing and a hand signaling one to stop, to stop<br />
and think about the environment, to stop cutting trees and<br />
to stop the destruction. The use of the animal horn is to<br />
gesture the heritage of Kenyan wildlife.
27<br />
Nani Croze-Kitengela Glass<br />
Nani Croze is a muralist who experiments with a range of<br />
materials. Her commissioned works can be found all over<br />
East Africa, including large murals in hotels, ministries,<br />
hospitals, banks and office buildings. Using the technique<br />
of concrete relief, mosaic, metal, glass blocks and stained<br />
glass, she shows immense versatility and creativity. Nani<br />
Croze is the daughter of artist parents. Her father HAP<br />
Grieshaber was a well-known woodcut artist in Germany.<br />
Nani runs Kitengela Glass.<br />
Kitengela Glass is located opposite the Nairobi National<br />
Park. The magical ambience of the place is peppered with<br />
sculptures; animals and secret mosaic pathways that lead to<br />
niches of busy artisans all transforming recycled glass and<br />
scraps of other materials into beautiful artworks, jewellery<br />
and home ware.<br />
Nani contributes to the local community by helping in tree<br />
planting, granting school fees for needy children or finding<br />
sponsors for them. She has also helped repair roads and<br />
improve security within the area. Through Kitengela glass,<br />
she has helped save raw materials by recycling glass and<br />
other resources. Nani and her amazing team of Dalle de<br />
Verre workers, Edwin and Rotich, have made many glass<br />
pieces using this technique. Some examples of this work can<br />
be found at the National Museum, United States of America<br />
Embassy and Selian Hospital, Arusha.<br />
Nani’s thoughts are forever on the environment - trees,<br />
bees, water and animals. Her art reflects this passion. Her<br />
art piece made from recycled glass blocks (Dalle de Verre)<br />
titled “Moscow Underground” was inspired by the title of<br />
the exhibition. At 4ft high x 33” wide, the piece can act as<br />
simple garden windbreak to reflect the rising or setting sun.
29<br />
Bella MATATA Kenya<br />
Bella MATATA is a small sustainable business in Kenya<br />
that focuses on Art, Fashion and the Environment. Bella<br />
MATATA has been running in Kenya for six years and<br />
has a small fashion label that is available in Nairobi, Diani<br />
and Cape Town. The company also hosts three to four art<br />
exhibitions a year in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia and<br />
Tanzania.<br />
Dominique Thoenes is the creative director and energy<br />
behind Bella MATATA. Bella MATATA delivers creative<br />
consultancy, styling, writing and photography for various<br />
magazines and offers creative services for film and<br />
advertising. Bella MATATA outsources a lot of sewing,<br />
carpentry, welding and canvas making to local people and<br />
groups, including Don Bosco Boys Orphanage and the<br />
Wonder Welders, disabled welding group in Tanzania in<br />
order to enable and to provide employment opportunities<br />
for local community members.<br />
Bella MATATA has produced and been part of many<br />
successful international shows since 2007. Bella MATATA<br />
Art, Fashion and Accessories can be found stocked in the<br />
following places: Marulas Studios and Eco Hub Nairobi,<br />
House of Treasures Nairobi, Kiru Yaya Center Nairobi,<br />
The African Colours Shop Diani, Diani Art Gallery Diani,<br />
Merchants on Long Street Cape Town, The Cross Boutique<br />
London.<br />
In this exhibition, two wall hangings produced by Bella<br />
MATATA are constructed from recycled fabrics. Bella<br />
MATATA contracts Kenyan ladies to sew together the<br />
vibrant designs that have been laid out by the company<br />
creative director.<br />
Isaac Parsieke Ole Ntimpai, is a gifted Kenyan beader who is<br />
physically challenged. He was employed by Bella MATATA<br />
to bead the zebras seen on the wall hangings.<br />
More about their works can be found on www.bellamatata.com.
31<br />
Kathy Katitu<br />
Kathy Katitu lives and works in Nairobi, Kenya. Her<br />
experiments with different media resulted in her use of<br />
different techniques when creating watercolors, acrylics<br />
and textured paintings. Kathy draws her inspiration from<br />
African lifestyle and environment.<br />
During her life in visual art, Kathy has explored different<br />
expressions of art ranging from formal to conceptual<br />
artwork, human figures to landscapes. She strives to create<br />
work that engages in a new way with environmental issues<br />
by blending her sensitivity to the environment with a<br />
contemporary form that reflects her own subjectivity and<br />
artistic interests.<br />
Kathy’s ‘fantasy colors’ artwork combine the desire to visually<br />
explore the beauty of Kenyan wildlife in its natural habitat<br />
and embody those concepts in semi-abstract art context.<br />
Recycled papers have become prominent in her paintings.<br />
Her paintings give a flavor of the remarkable landscapes<br />
traversed and they are done from her perspective, showing<br />
an artist’s response to these striking environments. The<br />
variety of habitats and strong definite light make Africa an<br />
artist’s paradise.<br />
Kathy’s thoughts on the environment<br />
Rainforests provide the people of the world with many<br />
necessities, some of which would no longer be available if<br />
rainforests did not exist. People must open their eyes to the<br />
horrible tragedy that will inevitably occur if the citizens of<br />
the world do not realize the seriousness of this problem.<br />
Plant a tree, now!<br />
Kathy has produced a series of works using recycled paper,<br />
recycled hessian and recycled metal frames.
35<br />
Wonder Welders<br />
Wonder Welders is a group of adults, many of whom were<br />
begging on the streets in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They are<br />
all affected by the disease, polio. Wonder Welders came<br />
together in 2005 with help from Blue Mango Photography,<br />
funds from The Dar es Salaam Charity Goat Races and great<br />
support from big companies in Dar es Salaam, who donated<br />
their scrap metal and established a welding workshop. A<br />
local welding expert using recycled scrap metal trained<br />
them and they started making all sorts of art pieces like<br />
animals and boats which were sold locally.<br />
Over the years more trainers came to the workshop to pass<br />
on different skills and they are now selling wooden products,<br />
animals art pieces made from scrap metal, recycled paper<br />
using pineapple tops, used paper and boxes, onion peels,<br />
beads from ground down wine bottles and natural soaps<br />
and candles.<br />
The sales of the items sustain the project making them selfsufficient<br />
and allowing them to expand rapidly to keep up<br />
with demand. The 40 people who are currently employed on<br />
a full-time basis are paid significantly well, so that they can<br />
now support themselves and their families. In the future,<br />
they hope to continue to expand the workshop and have<br />
more physically challenged Tanzanians to join in so they<br />
can expand the market in Tanzania and across the borders.<br />
All products made by Wonder Welders are made from<br />
recycled materials. They believe, in this way, they not only<br />
make beautiful art, but also care about the environment<br />
through their creative contribution.<br />
The sculpture produced by Wonder Welders for the show is<br />
named “Sassy”. She is an attractive lady leading the way to a<br />
better, healithier ecological world.
37<br />
Joseph Mbatia<br />
Joseph Mbatia Njoroge or ‘Bertiers’ as known by those close<br />
to him, studied at the YMCA Craft Training Centre in the<br />
beginning of 1980’s and he has been entertaining his friends<br />
and family by drawing since he was a kid. He continued<br />
to do that through his teenage years when he went to the<br />
school in Dagoretti. During that time, he also initiated his<br />
professional career as he began to paint signs for butchers<br />
and barbers. Later, he was utterly frustrated with that work<br />
and described himself as a “cat painter” in the middle of<br />
his commercial works, none of which interested him. He<br />
started to exhibit his works in a cafeteria called “Wasafiri”<br />
in Dagoretti and one day in 1985 Ernie Wolfe, an American,<br />
walked in and bought all 16 paintings. Later the men<br />
became friends and Bertiers works were put on sale in Santa<br />
Monica. Collectors became immediately interested, and<br />
soon a book about Mbatia was published.<br />
Bertiers’ art pieces, especially his paintings, are full of<br />
communal expressionism, irony, humor, and taunting<br />
of authorities which may make a westerner wonder how<br />
such open critique is even possible. The reason for this is<br />
probably Bertiers stance, and the fact that the community<br />
stands behind genuine folk artist such as him. He can also<br />
rely on his long career and on the protection given to him<br />
by international art collectors. Bertiers is equally adept in<br />
3D works in which he uses a rough energetic technique &<br />
exploits material references.<br />
Joseph Mbatia lives in the same village of Karinde, Dagoretti<br />
with the women who collaborated with “Mari Martikainen”<br />
and “Minna Impio” on the community artwork. They all<br />
know each other, which enhances the communal aspect of<br />
the exhibition.<br />
In this exhibition, Joseph’s metal sculpture is named “Zebra<br />
Safaris”, he sees the Zebra as a smartly dressed usher to<br />
the exhibition that is to help the environment, and the red<br />
shoes represent Wangari Maathai’s courageous steps to<br />
conserving the Kenyan environment.<br />
Bertiers biography can be found at www.bertiers.com
39<br />
UniquEco<br />
UniquEco is an African solution to a global problem.<br />
Thousands of discarded flip-flops wash up on the world’s<br />
shorelines creating an environmental disaster for the marine<br />
eco-system. Not only does this spoil the natural beauty of<br />
our beaches and oceans, the plastic waste is a hazard to the<br />
animals, slowly and painfully suffocating them.<br />
UniquEco offers a solution to help clean up the environment<br />
whilst generating a sustainable income for local families.<br />
We currently work with communities across Kenya and<br />
East Africa, educating them to see the worth in collecting<br />
discarded flip-flops and recreating them into unique<br />
jewellery, sculptures, toys, accessories and souvenirs. These<br />
people have been given an opportunity to make a fair living<br />
through trade whilst becoming responsible for their local<br />
environment.<br />
UniquEco is looking to strengthen the existing facilities<br />
and operations as well as to replicate and roll out its model<br />
across the globe providing the necessary skills, training<br />
and education to vulnerable groups. This expansion aims<br />
to increase exposure for UniquEco’s ecological and social<br />
message, boost employment in Africa and the rest of the<br />
world and finally, step up the rate at which we clean up our<br />
oceans.<br />
UniquEco has been operating for five years and has had<br />
international recognition through a variety of platforms.<br />
The most prestigious being one of the 12 finalists for the<br />
BBC World Challenge in 2008 and the Energy Globe<br />
National Award winner for Sustainability in Kenya in 2010.<br />
Uniqueco’s installation is named “Flip Flop Zebras Safaring<br />
in style”
41<br />
African Forest<br />
African Forest was founded in April 2006 and is based on the edge of the Rift Valley, overlooking Lake Elmentaita, which<br />
is a UNESCO World Heritage site. African Forest is a holistic agro-forestry company who are tapping the wealth available<br />
in agro-forestry in an innovative and sustainable way, in order to benefit investors, the environment, and the communities<br />
surrounding the plantations. African Forest focuses on the high potential value available in indigenous trees, both for<br />
long-term hardwood timber and also for the ongoing revenue that can be derived from them for medicinal and other<br />
uses on a sustainable basis. In addition, new uses of trees and their by-products are being investigated as part of their<br />
research, product design and development strategy. Forest-related products are being produced in collaboration with the<br />
local communities and marketed and distributed by African Forest.<br />
African Forest Indigenous Tree Nursery and Seed Centre<br />
Established in September 2006, the tree nursery currently covers 5 acres, space enough for up to half a million seedlings.<br />
They have over eighty different species of indigenous trees, and will be increasing to over a hundred. They focus on growing<br />
trees that have multiple uses, e.g. timber, medicine, foodstuff, dyes, fibre and environmental uses. African Forest also strive<br />
to find rare and endangered species, so they can be propagated, re-introduced, and preserved. They also grow trees suitable<br />
for all the different altitudes and agro-climatic zones of Kenya. African Forest also have a small selection of exotics.<br />
Recently established is their indigenous tree seed centre, with help from a Rufford small grant for conservation, an ongoing<br />
project which works in conjunction with the Kenya Scouts, training them in orienteering and identifying as well as mapping<br />
rare and endangered tree species for seed source. They also work together with Total to establish a fully equipped seed<br />
centre.<br />
Planet Positive Forestry<br />
African Forest has created a ‘Planet Positive’ forestry model, which intercrops exotics with indigenous trees, to gain the<br />
benefits of income from plantation forests together with recreating indigenous endemic forest. In addition the model<br />
creates non-timber forest products from the indigenous forest to ensure its future survival and protection.
45<br />
1Acacia mearnsii<br />
Wattle Tree<br />
Tannin or dyestuff: Wattle bark is the most widely used tannin material<br />
in the world. It contains 30%-45% (dry basis) high-quality tannins that<br />
are used in tanning many classes of skins and hides for many different<br />
classes of leather. Such tannins are particularly effective on hard leathers<br />
for shoes and saddles. They give better colour to leather than other<br />
tannins, do not precipitate in acid solution, and penetrate hides faster.<br />
A powdered bark extract is also used to prepare tannin formaldehyde<br />
adhesives for exterior grade plywood, particleboard and laminated<br />
timber.<br />
Fuel: Originally distributed as a source of tannin, black wattle is now<br />
recognized as a valuable fuel wood. Wood is moderately dense with<br />
specific gravity about 0.75, splits easily and burns well with a calorific<br />
value of 3500-4600 kcal/kg. The charcoal is extensively used in Brazil<br />
and Kenya, and in Indonesia the tree is extensively used as a domestic<br />
fuel and for curing tobacco.<br />
Fodder: The leaves have a high protein content (about 15%). Palatability<br />
trials with sheep showed milled leaves to be unpalatable on their own<br />
and were acceptable only when mixed with other feedstock. In Hawaii,<br />
A. mearnsii has been fed to cattle during drought periods.<br />
Erosion control: Wattles grow well at high elevations even on slopes<br />
with shallow or poor acid soils that are unstable and will not support<br />
agricultural crops. They can therefore be very effective in preventing soil<br />
erosion. Densely packed plantations have proved effective in preventing<br />
further erosion, even on hillsides of up to 50 degrees slope.<br />
Soil improver: An efficient nitrogen-fixer and good source of green<br />
manure, it thus can restore and regenerate soils.<br />
Nitrogen fixation: It is an effective nitrogen fixer and has an annual<br />
yield of wet leaves of 21-25 t/ha, containing 240-285 kg of nitrogen.<br />
2Acacia nilotica<br />
Nile Thorn<br />
Timber: Since the time of the Pharaohs, large timber trees have been<br />
exploited from the riverine forests of the Nile. Sapwood is yellowishwhite<br />
and heartwood reddish-brown, hard, heavy, durable, difficult<br />
to work, although it takes a high polish. Because of its resins, it resists<br />
insects and water, and it is harvested for boat making, posts, buildings,<br />
Glossary<br />
water pipes, well planking, ploughs, cabinet work, wheels, tool handles,<br />
carts, mallets and other implements. It is an attractive wood, good for<br />
carving and turnery. It is the best mining timber in Pakistan. Sudan<br />
forests have been managed on a 20-30 year rotation producing termite<br />
resistant timber especially suitable for railway sleepers.<br />
Fuel: The calorific value of the sapwood is 4500 kcal/kg, while that<br />
of the heartwood is 4950 kcal/kg. This valuable source of firewood<br />
and charcoal has been used in locomotives, river steamers and small<br />
industries. Burning charcoal, however, emits sparks. In India and<br />
Pakistan riverine plantations are managed on a 15-20 year rotation for<br />
fuel wood and timber.<br />
Gum or resin: A. nilotica ssp. nilotica is probably the earliest source of<br />
gum arabic, although this now comes mainly from A. senegal. The gum<br />
tapped from the bark is used in manufacturing matches, inks, paints<br />
and confectionery.<br />
Tannin or dyestuff: The pods of ssp. nilotica have been used for tanning<br />
in Egypt for over 6 000 years. The inner bark contains 18%–23% tannin,<br />
which is used for tanning and dyeing leather black. Young pods produce<br />
a very pale tint in leather, notably goat hides. Extracts from the bark,<br />
leaves and pods are used for dyeing cotton, silk and leather. Roasted<br />
seed kernels, when crushed, provide a dye for the black strings worn by<br />
Nankani women of Sudan.<br />
Reclamation: In India, this species is used on degraded saline and<br />
alkaline soils. It grows well when irrigated with tannery effluent and<br />
colonizes coal mine waste heaps. Over 50 % of the Chambal ravines in<br />
India have been revegetated with A. n. ssp. nilotica.<br />
3Adenathera pavonia<br />
Red Sandalwood Tree<br />
Medicine: In India a decoction of young leaves is used against<br />
rheumatism and gout. Pulverized wood mixed with water is taken orally<br />
for migraines and headaches; and dysentery, diarrhoea and tonsillitis<br />
are treated with a bark and leaf decoction.<br />
Timber: Adenanthera yields medium to heavy hardwood with a density<br />
of 595-1100 kg/cubic m at 15% moisture content. The heartwood is<br />
bright yellow when fresh, turning red; it is sharply demarcated from<br />
the light grey sapwood, which can be up to 5 cm wide. The heartwood<br />
is closely and even grained, with a moderately fine to slightly coarse and
even texture. Wood moderately lustrous. Shrinkage is variable, and<br />
the wood seasons very well with only slight warping. The wood is very<br />
hard, durable and strong. It can be easy or somewhat difficult to work,<br />
easy to plane and it takes a high finish. The heartwood is resistant to dry<br />
wood termites. The wood is used for bridge and household construction<br />
(beams, posts, joists and rafters), flooring, paving blocks and vehicle<br />
bodies. It may also be suitable for furniture and cabinet work and<br />
turnery.<br />
Food: Known as ‘food tree’ in Melanesia and Polynesia, the seeds of<br />
this tree are roasted over a fire and eaten by children and adults alike.<br />
Nutritional studies have shown that 1/4 of the seed weight is oil, with<br />
a high percentage of protein and a fatty acid composition, resulting in<br />
high digestibility in humans. Seeds may require boiling to neutralize<br />
toxicity. Young leaves are eaten as a vegetable.<br />
Fuel: Esteemed in the Pacific Islands for fuelwood, the wood burns<br />
readily, producing significant heat, and is used in both above - and<br />
belowground ovens. Good-sized fuelwood, larger than 11cm in diameter<br />
can be produced in 5 years. The wood yields very good charcoal.<br />
Shade or shelter: The fast growth and spreading crown of light, feathery<br />
foliage offers attractive shade. In Indonesia and Malaysia trees are<br />
planted for shade in coffee, clove and rubber plantations. It is planted<br />
along field borders as part of a windbreak.<br />
4Albizia gummifera<br />
Peacock Flower<br />
Medicine: A bark decoction is used against malaria antiprotozoal<br />
properties further validated in in-vitro tests. Lipophilic extracts of A.<br />
gummifera revealed very promising antitrypanosomal activity with<br />
IC50 values below 1 æg/ml. Four new macrocyclic spermine alkaloids<br />
isolated from A. gummifera were active against 2 Gram-positive<br />
(Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and 2 Gram-negative<br />
bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). In east Africa<br />
extracts from the crushed pods are taken for stomach pains and the<br />
bark decoction for malaria.<br />
Tannin or dyestuff: Bark has tannins.<br />
Gum or resin: Despite its name, the tree yields little amounts of gum<br />
when its bark is cut.<br />
Ornamental: A. gummifera is planted in town avenues for aesthetic<br />
purposes.<br />
Other services: Has ceremonial uses, especially as a meeting tree for<br />
traditional leadership assemblies. The leaves quicken the ripening<br />
process in bananas.<br />
5Brachylaena huillensis<br />
Silver Oak<br />
Fuel: During the first two decades of the 19th century, B. huillensis was<br />
the main fuel for Kenya. It was also exported as short logs to India as an<br />
inferior substitute for sandalwood for use in cremations. It is suitable for<br />
charcoal because of its high density and is exploited for this in Kenya.<br />
Timber: The wood is pale yellow to pale brown, with characteristic<br />
storeyed structure, scented somewhat like sandalwood, straight grained<br />
with conspicuous growth rings; texture is very fine, even, strong and<br />
stiff. But its failure in bending is sudden and complete. It is hard to work<br />
but does turn and work well with sharp tools. It takes a high polish but<br />
splits easily along the grain. It is used in flooring, furniture and joinery.<br />
In Kenya, it is a favourite wood for carving artefacts.<br />
Essential oil: Oil distilled from the wood has a pleasant, vetiver-like<br />
perfume.<br />
Ornamental: B. huillensis is planted as an ornamental tree around<br />
dwellings in Kenya.<br />
Boundary or barrier or support: Due to its durability, B. huillensis is<br />
used as fence posts, for example in northern Tanzanian along the border<br />
with Kenya, where it is overexploited.<br />
6Calliandra calothyrsus<br />
Calliandra<br />
Fuel: A good firewood species because it is fast growing, multi-stemmed,<br />
easy to regenerate and thornless. One year after planting, annual wood<br />
yields have been reported in the order of 15-40 t/ha with annual coppice<br />
harvests continuing for 10-20 years. Yields from C. calothyrsus are<br />
extremely good in coppice; after being cut at 50cm from the ground, 3m<br />
high coppices are formed in only 6 months rotation. The rootstock is<br />
very vigorous and will sprout readily. For firewood, optimum spacing is<br />
1m x 2 m with a minimum of 1m x 1m. Returns from charcoal<br />
productionare higher than fuelwood because the wood is a quick<br />
burner. C.calothyrsus can produce 14 t/ha of charcoal annually. Wood<br />
is suitableas a smoking fuel for the production of smoked sheet rubber.<br />
There has been a demand for smoking fuel since old rubber trees, the<br />
traditional source, are increasingly used by furniture manufacturers.<br />
Fodder: Leaves and pods are rich in protein and do not contain any<br />
toxic substances. Protein content is 22% (dry matter) and annual fodder<br />
yield (dry matter) amounts to about 7-10 t/ha. The fodder can be given<br />
to all types of ruminants and fulfils 40%-60% of their needs. Although<br />
no toxic substances have been found in the foliage, high concentrations<br />
of condensed tannins (up to 11%) have been reported, which may<br />
reduce the digestibility of protein for livestock to about 40%. Freshly cut<br />
(4-6 hours) forage has a higher digestibility value (60-80%). For fodder<br />
production, spacing can be dense: 0.5 x 0.5 m to 0.75 x 0.75 m. In Asia,<br />
it is planted in rice field dikes to produce fodder for fish.<br />
Soil improver: High leaf biomass production and high yields of<br />
protein leaf material on less fertile soils make it very suitable as a green<br />
manure and it is used in alley-cropping systems. Due to litter and the<br />
46
47<br />
combination of a deep and well-developed lateral rooting system, the<br />
soil and productivity of the land is improved. However, the relatively<br />
high level of tannins present in its leaves slows the rate of microbial<br />
breakdown of the organic matter.<br />
Erosion control: C. calothyrsus can be used to rehabilitate erosionprone<br />
areas and recover land exhausted by agriculture, where it easily<br />
dominates undesired weeds such as Eupatrium spp., Saccharum spp.,<br />
and Imperata cylindrica.<br />
Nitrogen fixing: Roots are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen because<br />
of the symbiosis with Rhizobium bacteria (to which root nodules bear<br />
witness) and the symbiosis with root fungus.<br />
Intercropping: C. calothyrsus is compatible with crops, with both deep<br />
roots and extensive fibrous roots. It has shown promise as an understorey<br />
plant in coconut plantations with about 60% light transmission.<br />
7Dovyalis caffra<br />
Kei apple<br />
Boundary or barrier or support: Trees can be spaced close together to<br />
form an impenetrable hedge around homesteads, gardens and croplands<br />
to keep out unwanted animals.<br />
Poison: If the fruit is soaked in water and allowed to ferment, the liquid<br />
drained off has herbicidal properties.<br />
Medicine: A bark decoction is drunk for constipation, complicated<br />
gastrointestinal conditions, colds and fever. The root bark of Z. gilletii is<br />
used in traditional Tanzanian antimalarial preparations.<br />
Food: Ripe fruits are pleasantly flavoured and rich in vitamin C. They<br />
can be eaten fresh or made into jelly and jam.<br />
Essential oil: The seed coat contains an aromatic oil.<br />
8Eriobotrya japonica<br />
Loquat<br />
Food: The fruit has a thick, tough peel surrounding the firm flesh, with<br />
a flavour reminiscent of a peach. It is rich in pro-vitamin A, having a<br />
very high carotene content. E. japonica is usually eaten fresh but may be<br />
stewed, served as a sauce, syrup or jam, or made into an excellent jelly.<br />
The fruit composition is 84%-89% water, 0.32%-0.35% protein, 0.3%-<br />
0.6% lipids, 9.89-12.79% sugar and starch, 0.3-0.37% cellulose, and<br />
0.29%-0.26% ash. The fruits are a good source of acid and pectin. The<br />
seeds, which have an almondlike taste, are used to flavour drinks and<br />
cakes. Timber: E. japonica has a medium-weight to heavy heartwood<br />
with a density of 655-950 kg/cubic m at 15% mc. The heartwood is pale<br />
purple-brown with darker streaks, not clearly differentiated from the<br />
sapwood. The grain is straight with an attractive silvery look, and the<br />
texture is fine and even. The wood is occasionally slightly fragrant. The<br />
wood has very little tendency to split or check, is hard, and takes a good<br />
polish.<br />
It is suitable for poles and posts, carving and drawing materials such as<br />
rulers, and is in demand for making stringed musical instruments.<br />
Poison: The seeds are poisonous and should be removed before cooking<br />
the fruit. The flowers are used as an insect repellent.<br />
Alcohol: The fruit juice of E. japonica can be used to prepare an<br />
alcoholic drink.<br />
Apiculture: Bees are easily attracted to the fragrant, white flowers.<br />
Honey is amber coloured with an agreeable flavour.<br />
9Eucalyptus saligna<br />
Blue Gum<br />
Apiculture: Sidney blue gum is not reliable as a honey producer. It is<br />
however useful in stimulating colonies and may be helpful in<br />
queenrearing and re-stocking programs. The honey is strongly flavoured,<br />
rather dark and frequently lacks density. It does not store well.<br />
Fibre: Young, fast-grown trees are used for semi-chemical pulp.<br />
However, when E. saligna is grown slowly, the heartwood may become<br />
difficult to process.<br />
Timber: The heartwood is red or pink, hard, stiff, coarse textured,<br />
usually straight grained, moderately durable, has a density of about 900<br />
kg/cubicm,iseasytoworkandpolishes.Itisanimportantgeneralpurpose<br />
hardwood in Australia, and is favoured for construction,<br />
flooring, cladding and panelling.<br />
Essential oil: The essential oil yield is 0.3%-0.5%. The major compound<br />
found in E. saligna is alpha-pinene (71%-84%).<br />
Reclamation: E. saligna is used in reforestation.<br />
Jacaranda mimosifolia<br />
10Jacaranda Apiculture: The relatively large flowers easily attract bees; therefore, it is<br />
suitable for bee forage.<br />
Fuel: J. mimosifolia provides useful firewood.<br />
Timber: The timber is yellowish-white, hard, moderately heavy, fine<br />
textured, easy to work, and is used for carpentry. Wood is light brown<br />
and soft; it is used for poles and for making small items such as tool<br />
handles and carvings. Note that the wood associated with the timber<br />
trade name ‘jacaranda’ does not come from this tree but from Dalbergia<br />
nigra.<br />
Medicine: Bark and roots are used for syphilis. Leaves also used as a<br />
vulnerary.<br />
Shade or shelter: The tree creates pleasant open shade and can be used<br />
effectively as a screen or as a windbreak.<br />
Ornamental: J. mimosifolia is widely grown throughout the highland<br />
tropics. When trees are not in flower, the finely cut foliage is also<br />
attractive, especially at close range.
Jatropha curcas<br />
11Physic Nut/Purging Nut<br />
Medicine: Seeds were formerly exported from the Cape Verde Islands<br />
to Portugal and the ‘curcas’, or purging oil, from them is a drastic<br />
purgative. They resemble groundnuts in flavour, and 15-20 seeds will<br />
cause griping, purging and vomiting for 30 minutes. It is reported from<br />
Gabon that 1-2 roasted seeds are sufficient to act as a purgative; larger<br />
doses may be dangerous. The seeds have been substituted for castor oil<br />
and are sometimes called ‘larger castor oil’. The oil is widely used for<br />
skin diseases and to soothe pain such as that caused by rheumatism; it<br />
is an ingredient in the oily extract, known in Hausa as ‘kufi’, which is a<br />
rubifacient for rheumatism and for parasitic skin conditions. The oil is<br />
used to stimulate hair growth. The seeds are also used in the treatment of<br />
syphilis. Juice or latex is applied directly to wounds and cuts as a styptic<br />
and astringent to clean teeth, gums, and to treat sores on the tongue and<br />
in the mouth. Branches are used as a chewing stick in Nigeria.<br />
Latex has antibiotic properties against Candida albicans, Escherichia<br />
coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus<br />
pyogens. It also has coagulating effects on blood plasma. A methanol<br />
extract of physic nut leaves afforded moderate protection for cultured<br />
human lymphoblastoid cells against the cytopathic effects of the human<br />
immunodeficiency virus. Preparations of the plant, including seeds,<br />
leaves and bark, fresh or as a decoction, are used in traditional medicine<br />
and for veterinary purposes. A leaf infusion is used as a diuretic, for<br />
bathing, to treat coughs, and as an enema in treating convulsions and<br />
fits. Leaves are also used to treat jaundice, fevers, rheumatic pains, guinea<br />
worm sores and poor development of the fetus in pregnant women. The<br />
leaves produce a sap that has haemostatic properties; it is used to dress<br />
wounds. In Ghana the ashes from the burnt leaves are applied by rectal<br />
injection for haemorrhoids. The root bark is used to relieve the spasms<br />
of infantile tetanus and is used for sores, dysentery and jaundice. The<br />
juice of the flowers has numerous medicinal qualities.<br />
Tannin or dyestuff: Leaf juice stains red and marks linen an indelible<br />
black. The 37% tannin found in bark is said to yield a dark blue dye; latex<br />
also contains 10% tannin and can be used as marking ink. Ashes from<br />
the roots and branches are used in the dyeing industry, and pounded<br />
seeds in tanning in Ghana.<br />
Lipids: The seeds yield up to 31%-37% of a valuable oil. It is used to<br />
prepare varnish after calcination with iron oxides. Hardened physic nut<br />
oil could be a satisfactory substitute for tallow or hardened rice bran oil.<br />
In Europe it is used in wool spinning and textile manufacture. Along<br />
with burnt plantain ashes, oil is used in making hard homemade soap.<br />
Fuel: Jatropha oil is an environmentally safe, cost-effective renewable<br />
source of non-conventional energy and a promising substitute for<br />
diesel, kerosene and other fuels. Physic nut oil was used in engines in<br />
Segou, Mali, during World War II. The oil burns without smoke and has<br />
been employed for street lighting near Rio de Janeiro. Fruit hulls and<br />
seed shells can be used as a fuel. Dried seeds dipped into palm oil are<br />
used as torches, which will keep alight even in a strong wind. The wood<br />
was used as fuel, though of poor quality, in Cape Verde.<br />
Wax: The bark contains a wax composed of a mixture of ‘melissyl<br />
alcohol’ and its melissimic acid ester.<br />
Soil improver: Press cake cannot be used in animal feed because of its<br />
toxic properties, but it is valuable as organic manure due to a nitrogen<br />
content similar to that of seed cake from castor bean and chicken<br />
manure. The nitrogen content ranges from 3.2 to 3.8%, depending on<br />
the source. Tender branches and leaves are used as a green manure for<br />
coconut trees. All plant parts can be used as a green manure.<br />
Leucaena diversifolia<br />
12Leucaena Nitrogen fixing: The tree nodulates and fixes atmospheric nitrogen with<br />
Rhizobium strains that also nodulate with L. leucocephala. On soils<br />
very low in nitrogen, a moderate application of nitrogen fertilizer may<br />
increase nodulation and nitrogen fixation. A fertilizer application of<br />
50kg-100kg N/ha was found to increase the number of nodules per tree<br />
from11.5 to 25-30, while nodule dry weight increased by 63%-70%.<br />
Soil improver: The annual leaf dry matter production can reach 10-16 t/<br />
ha. When incorporated as green manure, this adds 72kg-119kg nitrogen,<br />
2.5kg-3kg phosphorus, 29kg-60kg potassium, 47-94 kg calcium and<br />
7.5kg-18.5 kg magnesium to the soil per ha. This is equivalent to about<br />
10 t/ha cattle manure per year.<br />
Soil erosion: Soil erosion can be controlled effectively by planting L.<br />
diversifolia.<br />
Reclamation: In reforestation schemes, it is planted for soil amelioration<br />
and stabilization<br />
Intercropping: In agroforestry and mixed pastures, L. diversifolia is<br />
grown as an alternative for L. leucocephala, where the latter performs<br />
poorly because of high altitude or psyllid attack.<br />
Markhamia lutea<br />
13 Markhamia<br />
Medicine: Leaves are known to have medicinal value.<br />
Apiculture: M. lutea provides good bee forage.<br />
Ornamental: Attractive and worth planting as a screen or background<br />
tree for gardens and on golf courses.<br />
Fuel: Trees are a source of firewood and produce good charcoal.<br />
Fuelwood is used to cure tobacco in western Kenya.<br />
Boundary/barrier/support: M. lutea poles can be used as props to<br />
support banana trees.<br />
48
49<br />
Olea capensis ssp hochstetteris<br />
14East African Olive/Teak<br />
Fodder: O. capensis is a useful fodder tree.<br />
Fuel: A viable species for fuelwood from which excellent charcoal can<br />
be made.<br />
Timber: The wood of ssp. capensis and ssp. enervis is rarely used, but<br />
that of ssp. macrocarpa makes a fine, high quality timber. It has dark<br />
brown heartwood and is attractively figured, fine-grained, hard and<br />
heavy and although it is difficult to work it has been widely used in<br />
railway sleepers, wagon woods, bridge construction and for flooring<br />
blocks. It can also produce beautiful furniture.<br />
Podocarpus falcatus<br />
15East African Yellow-wood<br />
Medicine: Oil extracted from the seeds or fruits are used to treat<br />
gonorrhoea. The sap is used as a remedy for chest complaints.<br />
Poison: Leaves contain podolide, is a main ingredient for insecticide.<br />
Ornamental: The tree is very suitable for planting along roads in<br />
cities because of its excellent and attractive form. It makes an pleasant<br />
specimen plant on a lawn, standing out in early spring with the new<br />
flush of bluish grey leaves contrasting with the dark green mature<br />
leaves. Excellent as a pot plant for the patio. These plants can be used as<br />
Christmas trees instead of pine or fir trees.<br />
Reclamation: For use in re-forestation it is a species needing special<br />
treatment to ensure satisfactory seed germination but maintains good<br />
form in a range of planting situations.<br />
Food: The ripe fruit is edible but very resinous.<br />
Spathodea campanulata<br />
16 Nandi Flame<br />
Food: The seeds are edible and used in many parts of Africa.<br />
Timber: In its original habitat, the soft, light brownish-white wood is<br />
used for carving and making drums.<br />
Medicine: The bark has laxative and antiseptic properties, and the<br />
seeds, flowers and roots are used as medicine. The bark is chewed and<br />
sprayed over swollen cheeks. The bark may also be boiled in water used<br />
for bathing newly born babies to heal body rashes.<br />
Poison: The hard central portion of the fruit is used to kill animals.<br />
Shade or shelter: Recommended as a shade tree for parks and yards; it<br />
has been used for coffee shade.<br />
Syzygium guineense<br />
17Waterberry Medicine: Fruit is used as a remedy for dysentery, while a decoction of<br />
the bark is used as an antidiarrhoeic. In traditional medicine, liquid from<br />
the pounded bark and roots, mixed with water, is used as a purgative.<br />
Timber: Syzgium guineense provides reddish-brown, hard, strong,<br />
durable wood that is easy to work and is suitable for poles, posts and for<br />
building and bridge construction.<br />
Fuel: S. guineense is used as firewood and in the production of charcoal.<br />
Food: The ripe, pleasant-flavoured fruits of S. guineense are gathered<br />
and eaten.<br />
Poison: The poisonous bark has been reported to cause human deaths.<br />
Tectona grandis<br />
18Teak Medicine: In traditional medicine, a wood powder paste has been used<br />
against bilious headaches and swellings and internally against dermatitis<br />
or as a vermifuge. The charred wood soaked in poppy juice and made<br />
into a paste has been used to relieve the swelling of the eyelids. The bark<br />
has been used as an astringent and the wood as a hair tonic.<br />
Timber: A rare combination of superior physical and mechanical<br />
properties makes T. grandis a paragon of timber, and there is no<br />
likelihood of it being eclipsed by any other. The wood is a medium<br />
weight timber that is rather soft and has a characteristic appearance.<br />
The heartwood is often dull yellowish when freshly cut but turns golden<br />
brown or sometimes dark greyish-brown after exposure, often streaked<br />
grey or black. The sapwood is yellowish-white or pale yellowish-brown<br />
and up to 50mm thick. Grain is straight, wavy or slightly interlocked,<br />
with rather coarse and uneven texture. Density of the wood is (min. 480)<br />
610-750 (max. 850) kg/m³ at 12% mc. The wood is oily to the touch and<br />
when freshly cut has a smell reminiscent of leather. Being classified as<br />
very resistant to teredo activity, the wood is excellent timber for bridge<br />
building and other construction in contact with water such as docks,<br />
quays, piers and floodgates in fresh water. In house building, teakwood<br />
is particularly suitable for interior and exterior joinery (windows, solid<br />
panel doors and framing) and is used for floors exposed to light to<br />
moderate pedestrian traffic. It is also used quite extensively for garden<br />
furniture. Other uses are for building poles, transmission line poles,<br />
fence posts, wallboards, beams, woodwork, boxes, musical instruments,<br />
toys, railway sleepers and railcar construction. It is brittle and therefore<br />
less suitable for articles requiring high resilience, such as tool handles<br />
and sporting goods. Its high resistance to a wide variety of chemicals<br />
makes it ideal for laboratory and kitchen tables as well as for scrubbing<br />
towers, vats, pipes and fume ducts in industrial chemical plants. The<br />
wood grains are figured well, producing an attractive veneer, which is<br />
extensively used in the manufacture of furniture and interior fittings.<br />
Teakwood is suitable for the manufacture of decorative plywood. Larger<br />
logs are utilized for beams and sleepers, smaller ones for scantlings and<br />
battens, and thinner top ends and poles are used as round posts.<br />
Thinnings are also used for timber. The wood is very durable, difficult to
preserve, saws fairly and seasons easily. For the export market, teakwood<br />
is recommended for ship decking and other constructional work in boat<br />
building. T. grandis is economically one of the most important timber<br />
tree species of Indonesia.<br />
Ornamental: T. grandis is occasionally cultivated in tropical countries<br />
as an ornamental for its large leaves and spreading flower clusters.<br />
The species was originally introduced into Malaysia as a roadside and<br />
ornamental tree.<br />
Tannin or dyestuff: Both the rootbark and the young leaves produce<br />
a yellowish-brown or reddish dye, which is used for paper, clothes and<br />
matting.<br />
Other products: Sawdust from teakwood is used as incense in Java; the<br />
dust, however, may irritate the skin.<br />
Trichilia emetic<br />
19Cape Mahogany<br />
Medicine: The leaves can be used as an antidote for the irritation caused<br />
by the buffalo bean, whilst the bark is used in the treatment of skin<br />
complaints. Pieces of bark or powdered bark are soaked in warm water<br />
and used as an emetic or enema. Roots and the oil from the seed also<br />
have medicinal qualities; a bitter-tasting medicinal oil, obtained by<br />
boiling the ground seed in water, is taken orally to relieve rheumatism.<br />
Wax: Seed oil (mafurra or mafurreira tallow) is used for candle making.<br />
Food: A sweet, milky, potable liquid is extracted from the arils. The<br />
skinned seeds are also edible and are eaten raw or soaked in water and<br />
ground, the resultant liquid mixed with spinach dishes.<br />
Soil improver: The pressed seedcake left after oil has been extracted,<br />
with an approximate protein content of 16%, is suitable as a fertilizer.<br />
Other products: The kernels and husks of the nut produce a very good<br />
soap-making oil, which is sometimes used as a cosmetic and can also<br />
be used for preserving foodstuffs. For example, in eastern and southern<br />
Africa, oil is extracted on a small industrial scale and used in soap<br />
manufacture. The leaves have some soapy properties as well. Seed used<br />
to be exported from Mozambique under the name ‘mafura’<br />
or ‘mafurreira nut’.<br />
Warburgia ugandensis<br />
20 East African Green Heart<br />
Medicine: remedy for stomach-ache, constipation, toothache, cough,<br />
fever, muscle pains, weak joints and general body pains, prevention<br />
of diarrhea, several skin diseases, common cold, used to clear sinuses,<br />
remedy for chest complaints, treat malaria.<br />
Poison: The heartwood contains new sesquiterpenoids such as<br />
bemadienolide, cinnamide, drimenol, muzigadial, polygodial,<br />
warburganal, warburgiadione, warburgin, ugandensidial and<br />
ugandensolide. These compounds exhibit anti-feedant activity against<br />
armyworm (Spodoptera littoralis and S. exepta), widely occurring<br />
African crop pests. The anti-feedant activities of warburganal and<br />
muzigadial are comparable. These two compounds belong to the<br />
strongest group of anti-feedants against African armyworm found so<br />
far. In addition, they exhibit very potent antifungal, antiyeast and<br />
plantgrowth regulating activity.<br />
Timber: Heartwood yellow or greenish, becoming brown on exposure;<br />
very fragrant when freshly cut, the scent somewhat resembling that of<br />
sandalwood. Good timber for building and furniture, but not termite<br />
resistant. It saws easily, planes well and takes a high polish, but it is not<br />
durable and is liable to split on nailing. The wood somewhat resembles<br />
teak and shows a satin lustre; its fragrance persists over 4 years of<br />
storage. Milling of the wood gives rise to a dust that is very fragrant and<br />
causes sneezing.<br />
Fuel: The wood has a high oil content and burns well with an incenselike<br />
smell.<br />
Food: Fruit edible; all parts have a hot peppery taste. The leaves and<br />
seeds are sometimes used to add flavour to curries.<br />
50
53<br />
How can one<br />
get involved?<br />
We all are heroes in our every own<br />
little way. Be a hero today.<br />
Ten ways you can get involved:<br />
• Plant a tree<br />
• Save Water<br />
• Turn your computers off at night<br />
• Use energy saving light bulbs<br />
• Recycle glass, aluminum and paper<br />
• Go vegetarian once a week<br />
• Use one less paper napkin<br />
• Use both sides of paper<br />
• Rethink bottled water<br />
• Recycle old mobile phones
Pledge Form<br />
Name……………………………………………………………...........................….....<br />
Organization/Group………………………………………………………………......<br />
Email Address…………………………………………………………………............<br />
Physical Address…………………………………………………………………........<br />
P.O. Box……………………………Postal Code………………………………..........<br />
City…………………………………………………………………...............................<br />
Mobile……………………………...<br />
I/We would like to pledge ….. number of trees.<br />
I/We will be growing the above specified number of trees myself/ourselves and commit<br />
to securing their survival.<br />
I/We would like to contribute KES ………… towards the tree planting exercises which<br />
are a part of this exhibition.<br />
To make your pledge, please contact:<br />
Bella MATATA<br />
Phone number : 0706 261 058<br />
Email: bellamatata@gmail.com<br />
54
Acknowledgements<br />
A special thank you to all those who made<br />
a special contribution to this exhibition.<br />
African Forest<br />
Bella MATATA<br />
Plant for the Planet Foundation<br />
Redsky<br />
<strong>Safaricom</strong> Strategic Marketing Department<br />
<strong>Safaricom</strong> Foundation<br />
Total Eco Challenge<br />
World Agroforestry Centre<br />
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