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At 58 years old Letícia Ribeiro says she has always worked with clay. But it seems she was always in the shadow of well-known people. “I can’t remember everyone, but one of the best was Tamba whose real name was Cândido Xavier. He used to live in the neighbourhood of Pitanga de Cima, where we still live and where we still work with clay. I used to live with a nephew of his, and started making clay figurines because I liked them. Today, I sell my things in Cachoeira, on a stall in front of the City Hall. I make things that I see around me, chickens, birds, even zebras, though I’m not sure where they come from. My son also works with clay. People remember the boat of Exus (African gods) made by Tamba, and the circle of chickens. We all know how to make them now.” It’s impossible not to feel moved by the work of Mrs. Letícia, specially her fabric scraps dolls which reflect the images of her land so well. |
