Third old used Walaja with writing on both sides - Mali - Bamana $200.00
17 1/2 x 5 1/2". Please click on the image to see the other side of this old Islamic Koranic teaching device.

3 of the best aduazes - Nigeria - Hausa $1500.00
This aduaze measures 26 1/2 x 12 1/2". Please click on the image to view 2 more. The second one measures 28 x 16" and is the same price, $1,500. The third measures 28 3/4 x 14 3/4"; its price is $1,800.

Aduaze Koranic school board - Nigeria - Hausa $1800.00
In the past it was very common for parents to choose to send their children to Koranic school instead of sending them to public school. In addition to the appeal of the religion the Koranic schools typically cost little or nothing whereas at the very least parents had to dress their children according to the school dress code in order to attend public school. Many parents could not and still cannot afford this expense. The disadvantage to Koranic school was that the children would not learn the official language of the country be it English in Nigeria or French in any of the countries of francophone Africa. They would learn to read and write enough Arabic to study the Koran but usually not enough to converse in it. And few people spoke or speak Arabic outside of a religious context. Now more and more people are doing whatever it takes to send as many of their children as possible to public school. They may also attend Koranic school but this is extracurricular. These wooden boards are what the children use to practice reading and writing their lessons in the Koran which is always in Arabic. Our website features beautiful examples of the genre. This one measures 13" wide x 23" tall. Look below to see a photo of a religious man writing on one.

First painted Walaja Koranic school board - Burkina Faso - Mossi $300.00
This Koranic school board, referred to in Burkina Faso as a "walaja", was painted by a marabout, an Islamic religious leader. The verses from the Koran are meant to be read, not re-written on this same board. Please click on the image to view the other side of the same piece, also beautifully painted. This board measures 20 x 6 1/2" tall.

Walaja Koranic school board - Mali - Bamana $300.00
Walajas without painted decorations have verses that the marabout, or teacher of the Koranic school class, would write on the board and that the children would then copy, wash off and write again. These are the most common. This one measures 26 1/4 x 7 3/4". Please click on the image to view the other side which has similar writing.

More Walajas - Mali - Bamana $250.00
This Walaja measures 18 1/2". Click on it to view 2 more measuring 18" and 29", respectively. They are all the same price, $250. each. Both sides of all of these have similar writing.

Smaller Walajas, Walajas without writing - Mali - Bamana $225.00
These smaller walajas measure 17 1/2", 15" and 13 1/2", left to right. Their prices are $225, $200 and $145. Click on the photo to view two other, very used walajas, whose writing has been washed off but no new verses had been written on them at the point we acquired them. The first one of these measures 27 1/4 x 10", $250. The second one measures 14 x 6", $50.

Djibril statue - Mali - unknown tribe $600.00
This wooden figure, which measures 11" tall, was probably not carved in Africa. Rather it was probably originated somewhere in the Arab world and was traded to West Africa. It was collected in Mali. It represents Djibril, the horse on which Mohammed ascended to heaven.

Koranic school paintings - Senegal - Wolof $125.00
In Senegal there has been a proliferation recently of paintings on wood representing all aspects of life in that country. Please see our web page entitled 2 Dimensional Art to see other examples of this proliferation. Since the Koranic school is such an important aspect of life in Senegal they figure prominently in this form of artistic expression. This one measures 13 x 18". Please click on the photo to see another of these paintings. The second one measures 11 x 18".

Writing on a walaja - Mali - Bamana
This is a Koranic school teacher writing Koranic verses on a walaja for one of his students.

the 3 largest aduazes - Nigeria - Hausa $2500.00
This aduaze measures 33 1/2 x 15 1/4". Please click on this image to see the other two large, finest quality aduazes. The second measures 29 1/4 x 15 3/4" and the third is 29 1/2 x 14 3/5". The second and third are both $1,800 each.

Largest aduazes - Nigeria - Hausa $1500.00
This aduaze is of excellent quality. It measures 25 x 12 1/4". Please click on the photo to view 2 more beautiful aduazes. The second one measures 23 1/2 x 12 1/2". The third one is 25 x 13".

Detail of Arabic writing on Aduazes - Nigeria - Hausa
This writing is from three of the aduazes on this page.

Fifth old used Walaja with writing on both sides - Mali - Bamana $250.00
21 x 7 3/4". Please click on the image to view the reverse side of this very old and used indispensable Islamic teaching device.

Sixth old used Walaja with writing on both sides - Mali - Bamana $225.00
20 3/4 x 6 1/2". Please click on the image to view the reverse side of this fine walaja.

Fourth old used Walaja with writing on both sides - Mali - Bamana $175.00
18 3/4 x 5 1/2". Please click on the image to see the other side of this very used old Islamic tool for students to learn the Koran.

First very fine old aduaze - Nigeria - Hausa $1500.00
22 x 14 1/4", not counting the small wood "handle" on the top. In fact, this small "handle" is what is left after the horizontal piece, always relatively fragile, broke off. The family which used the board did not consider this a problem and continued to use it even without the horizontal part of the handle. The remaining protrusion has become quite well worn with use over the course of many years. Please click on the image to view the reverse of this old and worn object of islamic teaching.

Second painted Walaja Koranic school board - Burkina Faso - Mossi $300.00
18 x 7". Please click on the image to see the other side, similarly painted, of this beautiful object of Islamic art.

Third painted Walaja Koranic school board - Burkina Faso - Mossi $300.00
19 1/4 x 6 3/4" Please click on the image to see the other side of this fine Islamic regligious item, also painted beautifully.

Second old used Walaja with writing on both sides - Mali - Bamana $200.00
15 3/4 x 7 1/2"

Second very fine old aduaze - Nigeria - Hausa $600.00
20 x 11 3/4". Please click on the image to see the other side of this very old and very worn aduaze.

Third very fine old aduaze - Nigeria - Hausa $500.00
18 x 9 1/4". Please click on the image to view the reverse of this very old and worn Islamic teaching object.

Fourth very fine old aduaze - Nigeria - Hausa $1200.00
21 1/2 x 10". Please click on the image to view the reverse of this beautiful board, perfectly complete with its horizontal handle intact.

Fifth very fine old aduaze - Nigeria - Hausa $900.00
22 x 11 3/4". Please click on the image to see the other of this very worn and very used Koranic learning device.

Sixth very fine old aduaze - Nigeria - Hausa $750.00
20 1/2 x 9 3/4". Please click on the image to see the old writing on the other side of this very used Islamic object.

Three of the very finest old aduazes - Nigeria - Hausa $1500.00
Measuring, respectively, 21 3/4 x 9 1/2", 20 1/2 x 11 1/4", and 22 1/4 x 12 1/4", these 3 very beautiful and fine quality aduazes are all very similar and are each the same price, $1,500. Please click on the image to see the other two. In all three cases, the writing on the reverse is very similar, at least in terms of the way it looks on the board. I presume that the verses are different; I regret I am unable to read them myself.

Seventh very fine old aduaze - Nigeria - Hausa $1500.00
23 x 10". Please click on the image to see the other side of this beautiful board with some of the most beautiful calligraphy.