Dikenga is an ancient Kongo Cosmogram depicting the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth, encompassing spiritual, emotional, mental and physical realms. It is a symbol that has existed in African culture for centuries, honoring the divine connection between physical and spiritual worlds. It is the interconnection of the physical and the spiritual that represents the power of African Art.
Throughout my life and career, I have been fortunate to live and work in many countries around the world, notably spending 25 years living in sub-Saharan Africa in six different countries: Senegal, Niger, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria and Burundi.
My career enabled me to work in economic-social development and diplomacy, including serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Burundi.
Learning about African culture instilled in me a love for the art, heritage, and creativity of the many traditional artists who produced masks, sculpture, pottery, textiles and paintings of such a quality to inspire modern artistic movements such as Cubism.
Most important have been the personal connections I established with artists and their families, sharing meals, learning the culture of ancestors, participating in traditional ceremonies, and having the highest honor of becoming a Queen Mother in the Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana.
During my time living in Africa, I collected a representation of tribal artifacts and contemporary paintings directly from artists, families, local galleries and artistic dealers.
Like the cosmogram of Dikenga, the pieces in my collection represent symbols of the cycle of life. Each piece has a story to tell, shared with me personally.
These are the memories that I cherish and it is my honor to now share my collection publicly.
Ambassador Dawn M. Liberi (ret)
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