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Kenyan Village Cashes In On Simpsons
 August 3, 2007 10:01 pm
This short Reuters video tells the story of how soap stone carvers in the Kenyan village of Tabaka are earning more money than ever by turning out delectably off-model carvings of Simpsons characters. In particular, the shot of the villagers trying to watch an episode of the Simpsons is priceless. According to Reuters, the village has an official license from Fox to produce these figurines. Now the question is, where can one purchase these statues? UPDATE: Brew reader Hunter writes in the comments that the statues will soon be available here. 12 comments posted in Cartoon Culture, TV 
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mmmmm soapstone
You can buy them here.
Awesome!
Wow! These are great.Going to get me a Homer statue.
I think it’s great that they double their income. (They deserve it if they are hand-carving “The Simpsons” TM and copyright FOX and its related companies. All rights reserved” on each figure.)
My wife, however, was initially disturbed by this. I told her to relax. They probably have a facility for Simpsons and another where they still make gnus and giraffes. And still another where they make Crood Awakening figures for Comicon 2008.
Heh, it leaves one wondering about all those old carvings of “gods” and “spirits”.
Wow, now if that’s not a sign of the Simpson’s being “culturally significant” I don’t know what is.
These figures are such an unusual or accidental mix of novelty and the sublime. What’s great about them is that they have their own integrity without being something totally predictably ironic, which is what we’re so accustomed to. I think that’s why everyone wants one.
“Heh, it leaves one wondering about all those old carvings of “godsâ€? and “spiritsâ€?.”
Yes indeed Johnathan! Imagine if in 2000 years from now archeologists find these little statues. Will Homer be considered as a major deity in the Simpsonian pantheon? Will they think we offered sacrifices of beer and donuts to appease him???
As I have stated in earlier posts (Hi PCUnfunny!) “D’OUH!” can be translated to any language :-)
How ironic would it be if they also made images of Ned Flanders and Rev. Lovejoy. What would Jebus think of all these heathenry?
Ugh..very sad reflection of our times, when you fly off to Africa to get a taste of African culture and see these ugly Simpson heads sitting around..the stench of American pop culture permeating every corner of the globe..is there no way to totally absorb oneself in any other culture without running into a StarBucks, McDonald’s or…Simpson heads? Apparently not.
Cynthia: I agree with your sentiment, but maybe, just maybe the people in Kenya want air-conditioning, medicine, and bath products. Carving the Simpsons and opening up to global trade may be the only way for them to be healthy and comfortable.
Even if you don’t agree with that (I can feel something coming.) I enjoy a lot of music from the UK. I don’t want to give it up because a tourist from across the pond expects me to listen to bluegrass.