Here is a short bio of James, by himself:
Born in 1980 and hailing from the village of Agaña Heights, CHamoru artisan James Cruz Bamba is the son of Joseph F. Bamba (Ma’ina) and Annie C. Bamba (Cruz Andai of Agaña Heights). He graduated from George Washington High School in 1998. He attended the Guam Community College for a year and spent over 13 years working abroad as a linguist. In 2013 he returned to Guam to give back to the community that has given so much to him.
James began his journey learning to weave from his family in 1995. The Bamba and Cruz clans form a long lineage of artisans such as weavers, carvers, blacksmiths, fishnet makers and seamstresses; which at those times were a necessity. James learned how to weave traditional coconut leaf items from his father’s oldest sister, Auntie Wåwe’/Tan Chåro’ (Rosario Cruz) and his maternal grandmother’s older brother Uncle Pedro (Pedro C. Cruz). James learned how to weave the guagua’ (food basket), guagua’ talayeru (fisherman’s basket), che’op (temporary long carry basket), åla (temporary basket/chicken nesting basket), higai (coconut leaf thatch), gueha (coconut leaf fan), tuhong (coconut leaf hat) and katupat (rice pouch) from his aunt and uncle. Although traditional åkgak (pandanus leaf) weaving wasn’t the skill that his aunt and uncle could teach him, they knew the basics and taught him all that they knew. They taught him how to plant the tronkon åkgak (pandanus tree), which James acquired from a neighbor, and how to process the thorny leaves. They explained how when they were younger, their respective families would all gather, their moms would dethorn leaves and then the younger children would roll the leaves back and forth, massaging them so that they would be supple and pliable. Then their mothers would roll the leaves into large royun åkgak. From there, his auntie Wåwe’ would explain how to make a simple kottot (square bottomed pandanus leaf basket). After learning all that James could from his aunt and uncle, he ventured out to find other teachers who could help feed his desire to learn more.
James works with various mediums and art forms, however his passion lies in traditional and contemporary åkgak weaving. He works against cultural gender taboos in the Chamorro culture and continues to weave pandanus leaves. It is his hope that his work will prevent this dying art form from disappearing completely, even though åkgak weaving was generally reserved for women. James is passionate about preserving, promoting and perpetuating the culture and strongly feels that something so unique and useful should not be lost due to shifting cultural beliefs and gender roles.
James has worked to recreate several «lost» items from the Chamorro’s past which have been documented in several books. In 2004 he created what he calls «tuhong antigu» or the ancient hat. It was documented in the publication An Account of the Corvette L’ Uranie’s Sojourn at the Mariana Island, 1819. In 2012 he improved upon the design. In 2013, he has recreated several more items from that same book (published on his website, www.ginen-guahan.com.)
He currently works at the Dept. of Lands and Natural Resources Rota, in the Endangered Species Program. His work is protecting the endangered plants of the Marianas from imminent extinction.
He is the sole proprietor of Ginen Guåhan. He volunteers numerous hours of his time at both public and private schools, and at other establishments teaching, presenting and demonstrating. In 2015 he represented Guam at the 6th Annual Che’lu San Diego’s Chamorro Cultural Festival held at California State University, San Marcos, where he exhibited his woven items, as well as his apprentices’, and held several workshops in which the participants learned to weave åkgak items.
Other events that James has organized, here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/antes-pago-yan-mona/851254998301195
https://www.facebook.com/602297710/posts/10154368667372711/?mibextid=WC7FNe&rdid=DbirupqKeAadzRTh
[James Bamba dressing a bow tie]
[Artisans who took part in the exhibition]
You can find out more information about James and his work at: http://www.ginen-guahan.com
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 906
Rota, MP 96951
Home Address:
219 Joseph Cruz Ave.
Agana Heights, GU 96910
Contact Numbers:
Home: (670) 532-1508
Cell: (670) 285-1508
Email Address: jamesbamba@gmail.com