After the importation
of Wau of the Congo to
England, with the advent of his descendants on the American and
Canadian show scene, the columns of the dog magazines were filled with
the praise of breeders for the new line. How many breeders since then
have dreamed of going to Africa and bringing back their very own
Basenji or Basenjis to start a new line? It is not impossible. Over the
years, new Basenjis have been coming from Africa to America in a steady
trickle, mostly unheralded by the fancy. People who go to Africa,
including Peace Corps volunteers, anthropologists, employees of
American corporations, missionaries, and those who travel to explore or
adventure, simply bring back the dogs they have acquired as pets.
Many modern-day fanciers have not studied the history of
registered Basenjis enough to know how small the pool of dogs from
which they derive. The number of African-imported foundation dogs
registered by the AKC was four: Kindu,
Kasenyi, Phemister's Bois, believed to
have been the English African import Bakuma of Blean who was called
Bois by the Rogers, and Phemister's
Congo. Importations by Gwendolyn Stanich in the 1960's
introduced little fresh African blood - less than one quarter of the
pedigrees of the dogs finally registered by the AKC. Also, Dr. Leon
Standifer brought Kiki of Cryon
from Liberia and bred her to the AKC registered Gunns Ramses. Two of
their grandchildren sired by Khajah's Black Fula Challenge went to
England and now have distant descendants here. The
remainder of our present bloodlines derives from nine (9) African
imports to England who have descendants among the present-day
registered stock plus whatever new blood was introduced by the
Sadler-Ford "Taysenji" dogs. Over the years, American breeders have
been extremely dependent upon England. It is time we struck out for
ourselves, and with the fresh winds blowing at the AKC, now may the
time to expend some efforts toward doing so. America now has real depth
of experienced breeders, and already some of them have begun acquiring
and working with new African dogs. There is everything to be said for
selection of dogs in Africa by experienced Basenji people. We know some
of the things we have to look for in temperament in order for the dogs
to survive in American homes. We have a consistent idea of the
soundness and type wanted in imported dogs. And we have a moment in
time when travel in Africa is diplomatically, physically and
financially possible. A seminar will be held after
the Greater Chicagoland Basenji Club Specialty on September 26, 1987
where interested fanciers can explore some possibilities.... |