This is one of those “I don’t know the answer and I hope you do” type of questions…
Recently, I’d purchased an Imani & Menelik set from a fellow collector. They were made by a company called the Olmec Corporation. I jumped onto google and found… pretty much nothing about them.
Menelik & Imani - fortunately NOT in neon colours
On my daily internet surfing adventures *cough* I found a company by the name of EthiDolls that made collectible African historical characters. They were formed in 2003 and are based in the USA.
Currently, they have two dolls in their line – Makeda, The Queen of Sheba (modern day Ethiopia – East Africa) and Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa of the Asante (modern day Ghana – West Africa).
Queen of Sheba
Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa
These dolls are 16 inch tall and hand crafted by Madame Alexander (The Alexander Doll Company, Inc.) and at USD $139 each, they are a bit pricey so I guess I’ll be admiring from afar for a while.
This is an excerpt of the company’s profile -
Established in 2003, EthiDolls® is a developer of collectible quality, educational, African dolls and accessories, based in New York City. The company’s mission is to create unique dolls and related accessories that help children and adults embrace African heritage, culture and tradition.
Salome Yilma, EthiDolls’ CEO, conceived and designed the line of learning and exploration products along with Yeworkwoha Ephrem, EthiDolls’ EVP. Both women are Ethiopian entrepreneurs living in the New York area.
Through EthiDolls, Ms. Yilma and Ms. Ephrem plan to develop a line of culturally authentic and unique Signature Dolls and Accessories that teach history, celebrate cultural diversity and offer new play patterns.http://www.ethidolls.com/about_us.htm
(accessed 20 August 2009)
Apparently, King Solomon’s son Menelik by Makeda took the Ark of the Covenant back to Ethiopia after he visited his father. I find this story terribly intriguing… even to this day this story is still quite a mystery.
So we all know that the So in Style dolls are being sold in the USA at Toys’r'us, Target and Walmart stores now… but how about outside the USA?
Asia = ??? does anyone know?
Australia = good news – Mattel Australia are quick with their responses! bad news – I quote “we have not immediate plans to range these Dolls in Australia. You could try the Ebay Website.”
EvilBAY??? – are you kidding? do you know how EXPENSIVE African American (and generally most other non-European) dolls go for *there*?
Europe = ??? the UK email contact function is down so I can’t enquire and um, I the only European language I can understand is English -_-’
So does anyone else know if the SiS dolls will be sold in Europe?
South America? Africa? Anywhere else? Antarctica?
Firstly, people of African descent don’t just live in the USA.
Secondly, people of African descent aren’t the only ones with “African-ish features” and dark skin. People of Indian/Desi, Melanesian, Polynesian, Australian Aboriginal and some South East Asians also have dark skin and some similar physical features. It would be great to see a better range of more diverse dolls to choose from, to show our kids who are of non-European ancestry that they are also being represented in popular culture and I’m getting impatient waiting around…
And you’d think that if individuals and small companies can utilise international postage, a large company such as Mattel should be able to do so too.
