The african period

Giuseppe Banda served in World War II. After being taken prisoner by French troops in 1943, he was deported to Equatorial Africa, in the camp of Berberati in the Central African Republic, where he started his artistic career.

He modelled a Christ from termite mud for the camp’s chapel and, as his talent having been recognized, was assigned to manage a school of ebony and ivory sculpture and African handicraft.

Two years later, he was appointed to fresco the apse and the presbytery of St. Anna Cathedral in Berberati. This artist’s major skill was in depicting religious figures with African features.

After the success of this magnificent fresco, the apostolic prefect asked Giuseppe Banda to make a sculpture of the Madonna, to be placed on the facade of the Carnot Church, 80 km north of Berberati. The sculptor created a masterpiece, using clay from the MambéréRiver mixed with liquid cement, cooked in the oven and painted.