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Africa comes alive in South Korean exhibit

By Erik Slavin, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, February 24, 2008
Erik Slavin / S&S
Second Infantry Division soldiers examine a lion reproduction and a massive collection of artwork Friday at the African Cultural Center in Pocheon, South Korea. The 2nd ID sent 65 soldiers to the center as part of its Black History Month celebration. Purchase reprint
Erik Slavin / S&S
A collection of hand-crafted busts were among the thousands of pieces on display Friday at the African Cultural Center in Pocheon, South Korea. Purchase reprint
Erik Slavin / S&S
Spc. Morgan Hyde of the 2nd Infantry Division Band stares back at a collection of masks Friday at the African Cultural Center in Pocheon, South Korea. Purchase reprint
POCHEON, South Korea — Just off a back road in a small town outside of Uijeongbu, a group of buildings houses one of the most extensive collections of African art and craftwork in East Asia.

On Friday, about 65 soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Division got a look at the African Cultural Center in Pocheon.

It is the brainchild of a South Korean man who has traveled to 35 countries in Africa, collecting art from all corners of the continent. Tae Chun-man, 56, grew up in rural Pocheon with little opportunity. He has since more than made up for it. His business ventures have made him a multimillionaire. “The poverty of my childhood robbed me of having a chance at education in school,” Tae said. “That got me to dream about building up some kind of learning center.”

The city rejected Tae’s first two plans for schools. Then he began traveling to Africa and fell in love with the continent. He began building his African Cultural Center in 1998. More than 20 billion won ($21 million) later, the doors opened in 2006.

The thousands of display items are from all over Africa, with a large section of pieces from West Africa, followed by Zimbabwe to the south. Many of the soldiers gazing at the artifacts were impressed at the center’s scale.

“You expect to see this in Seoul, but not here,” Sgt. Gary Wilder said.

Staff Sgt. Lamar Atkinson said he visited an African cultural center while serving in Europe but  never expected one here. “I’m amazed to see they have the number of African artifacts that they do,” Atkinson said. “As an African-American, it warms my heart to know that someone here cares this much about our culture.”

The visit was a natural fit during Black History Month, said Lt. Col. Wanda Chatman, 2nd ID’s equal opportunity program manager. “It’s interesting for the soldiers to see so much here,” Chatman said. “Many of us won’t have the opportunity to go to Africa, ever.”

The center employs resident artists from Zimbabwe, who craft stone and other materials shipped from their country. The center also normally stages dancers from Zimbabwe, although they were not available Friday.

The center is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Admission is 5,000 won.

For information in Korean, call 031-543-3600.

Stars and Stripes reporter Hwang Hae-rym contributed to this report.

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