| He
sold his creations at the V&A Waterfront and began to grace
the streets of Cape Town with his unique form of art. It was so
unique it initially led the bemused Cape Town police to put him
in the back of their car and call their superiors for advice! Naturally
the superiors advised them to let him go and now Gregory enjoys
a good relationship with the city authorities...
Attention is soon
turned to his artifact-laden tunic which Gregory says is about "all
African tradition, all African culture[s]" and he goes on to
explain some of the more prominent objects displayed. First,
he points out the clusters of sea shells hanging around his neck,
saying that in Africa these shells were "old money" and
once used as currency. He explains the eggs on his head dress as
being symbolic of life and says "everything must be life, everything
must shine, [and] be positive".
Next his hands grab
the arcane black bottle near his waist to explain that in his culture,
the Sangoma people would place "good spirits" in a bottle,
with which they would "heal sick people [they] passed while
walking on the roads". The broken shards of mirror found on
his chest bear similar spiritual significance, and are often worn
by Voodoo people in Africa and are said to be a kind of window into
the spiritual world, and a "way to talk to [their] ancestor[s]".Gregory
says his main inspiration or motivation is to "make people
laugh" and "make people happy" and to represent different
African cultures.
He says he always
thinks "how we can put all of Africa together to make [it]
one", adding that "not one country can be forgotten".
When he is travelling in Africa, be it in Senegal, Cameroon, Mali
or the Congo, the local people invariably look at him and say "ahh,
that is our culture" as they see something of their own represented.
"All Africa is in my clothes" he says, drawing attention
again to his peerless suit.
When not walking
St. Georges Mall or Green Market Square, Gregory features at the
Grahamstown festival, the Hermanus Whale Festival, has been hired
to receive guests at hotels and airports, and has also appeared
on SABC 2 and E-TV News. He is very popular with tourists, especially
those from Italy, England, America and Germany, who frequently ask
why he does not come over and do his thing in their own country.
But he says his focus
is on Africa. Pictures of him certainly do get back to their countries
though, as Gregory says everyday "hundreds" of pictures
are taken of himself, usually posing with the tourists. Asked
about his dreams and ambitions, Gregory (or the "Egg Man"
or "Ei man" as he is also known) says that he is planning
on starting an art school, which is part of his 'Project For Africa'
. He wants to impart creative knowledge to South African youth,
giving them the power to create beautiful things and also to support
themselves, all part of his ultimate venerable ambition to "[bring]
Africa together to make one.
Achievements:
Finalist: The Best of Cape
Town Awards, Category Best performing Artist - 2008
Cell C Awards - 2009 in Soweto, Gauteng
| 
|
Date
of Birth: |
|
8
July 1979 |
Country: |
|
Benin
West Africa |
Wife: |
|
Xhosa
South africa |
Children: |
|
2 |
Chest
/ Bust: |
|
95 cm |
Waist:
|
|
88 cm |
Hips:
|
|
99 cm |
Collar:
|
|
39 cm |
Height:
|
|
1,72
m |
|
Contact The Egg Man:
Cellphone:
073 750 7923
E-mail: eggmanfestival@gmail.com
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|