Original Story Published by: Carolina Cardona for Click Orlando
Photo Source: ©Click Orlando
Rawlvan Bennett collected items throughout his travels.
Statues and sculptures give us a look into cultures and traditions from Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali and several other African countries.”
"We call ourselves African-Americans but we truly don't know that much about Africa," Bennett said. "I wanted to change that."
Thirty-nine years ago, Bennett was intrigued by an African mask that he saw at a gallery in Los Angeles. His love for that piece led to a journey through Africa, where he connected with tribes learning about their art.
"I never planned to do this. This wasn't something that I said, 'One day I'll open a gallery,'" Bennett said.
Now more than 2,000 African sculptures, thrones and statues are displayed inside fashion square mall in Orlando. Most of the pieces were purchased by Bennett while living in Africa, others were given to him in exchange for his contributions to building roads, bridges and hospitals in African villages. They're primarily made out of bronze and wood, except for a throne display made with thousands of colorful beads.
"This would be like the king of the kings and so there are only two of these outside of the country," Bennett said pointing to items in the gallery. "The other ones in Germany and we have the one here."
Some pieces are more than 300 hundred years old, including a statue of a famous king from Cameroon. Each creation means something.
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