baobab tree | pen & ink

The baobab is one of Africa’s great icons — a tree so large and enduring that it seems to hold the landscape together. This particular giant, carbon-dated to around 2,000 years old, has survived droughts, storms, and entire human eras, quietly anchoring the land around it. Environmentally, baobabs are true “trees of life.” Their enormous trunks store vast amounts of water, helping them withstand extreme dry seasons. They feed and shelter a huge range of wildlife — from birds and bats to insects and primates — and their fallen flowers and fruit enrich the soil beneath them. Culturally, they’re just as important. Across Africa, baobabs serve as meeting places, story circles, landmarks, and sources of food, medicine, and material. Communities have gathered beneath their branches for generations. This artwork celebrates a tree that is both ancient and alive, carrying the memory of centuries while continuing to sustain the world around it.