It's the first day of Black History Month and to celebrate Youngstown State kicked off this year's art exhibit featuring Makonde sculptures.

This is the first year the collector is donating the artwork back to the university and it's a collection she's accumulated for 7 decades.

"I got really fascinated by the sculptures themselves," said Tazim Jaffer.

For 16 years, Youngstown State University has featured a new art collection every year to kick off Black History Month.

"Mostly African American people and people of color tend to struggle when it comes to getting access to mainstream art, galleries and museums," explained Samuel Adu-Poku, Art History Professor and Black History Month Art Show organizer at YSU. "This is an opportunity for us to create opportunities for African Americans."

The Makonde Sculptures showcased in Bliss Hall are a personal collection of Tazim Jaffer who was originally born in Tanzania and once lived in England, Ireland, and the Mahoning Valley.

"When I moved to Ohio or came to the states, I was surprised that Makonde art was not as valued as much as West and Central African art," Jaffer said. 

Tazim started this collection in the 1950s and collected most of the pieces in the 60s and 70s.

"We cannot judge by western standards, what is relevant and what is not," Jaffer said. "We have to look into their own history and politics."

Jaffer studies life-cycle rituals and women's economic empowerment from African, East Indian, South Asian, and Pacific Island cultures. On Wednesday, she presented her knowledge of the Makonde art to a room full of learners at YSU's McDonough Museum of Art. 

"She claims that Makonde sculpture has been underrepresented because it's assumed it is tourist art rather than functional art," Adu-Poku said. "Her responsibility was to showcase the importance of Makonde sculpture to the Western world, especially to America."

"I don't think there is enough exposure to different ethnic groups," Jaffer added. "Maybe they see more of Western and Central African art but this is entirely Makonde art."

The exhibit is free to guests and goes until February 23rd. The items will then move to the anthropology, art history, and African American studies departments.