The African continent is placed slightly right of center of the mural, underscoring
Africa’s dynamic and ever evolving impact on the Americas. The size of the Cape Verde
islands in relation to the contiguous African continent is purposely made larger to
demonstrate the outsized influence of Cape Verde in Massachusetts, which holds the largest Cape Verdean population in the United States. Concentric circles over the outline of the African continent
is a reference to both Anansi the Spider, a familiar trickster character from Ghanaian folktales who has made his way around
the world, and to the concept of “the web of life,” which originates and continues
to emanate from Africa. Within the web are proverbs and quotes and the names of African
American inventors and their inventions, symbolizing the “webs” that Africa continues
to weave beyond its borders. Take a look at the Quotes and Sayings section above for more information.
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