OSAKA -- Anthony Monda has been living here for six years and he cannot help but wonder at how little Japanese people know about Africa.

In the Internet era, Japanese people's knowledge of Africa remains either biased or very stereotyped, said the 30-year-old Kenyan, who finished his doctorate in structural engineering at Kinki University in April.

Japanese people, according to Monda, typically see Africa as one big vast land of black people, an assortment of wild animals and hot weather.

In an attempt to broaden the perception of Africa, Monda is organizing "Art Africa 2000," an exhibition that opens Wednesday and runs through Oct. 9 at Pias Gallery in Osaka's Kita Ward that will feature two prominent African artists: Martin Dartey, 40, from Ghana, and his wife, Caroline, 33, from Kenya.

The couple will be present throughout the exhibition to interact with visitors.

"I am going to showcase Africa. Japanese people can understand Africa better through my art work, because African art has meaning in every work," said Martin, who will exhibit some 200 pieces, mostly oil paintings.

Martin, who mainly paints African people and their traditions, said African art is unique as it shows every aspect of their lives.

"Through art, people can begin to understand our behavior," he said. "Art is the best way to make ourselves understood."

Caroline, an African art historian and accessory designer, will display some 200 accessories and bags -- all designed by her and mostly made of natural materials, such as bauxite, cow bones or recycled glass for beads.

"My work has a traditional African background," she said. "But as tradition is also changing, my designs fit into contemporary fashion in Japan as well."

Monda emphasized that the upcoming event is no ordinary art exhibition, because visitors will be able to freely mingle with the artists, talk, ask questions and even participate in workshops. At least two interpreters will be on hand to help people who want to talk with the artists, he said.

During the last four days of the event, Caroline will lead a workshop in which participants will learn how to make accessories modeled on the samples on display, using stones, jewels and various other materials brought from Africa.

Participants are advised to reserve workshop places, but they can buy tickets -- 2,400 yen for a basic design course and 3,900 yen for an advanced design course -- on site if space is available.

Making one accessory usually takes about half an hour, and participants can take their work home, Caroline said.

For those interested in oil and watercolor painting, Martin will hold a two-hour African painting workshop between Oct. 14 and 16 at Atelier Gato in Kita Ward. It will cost 4,500 yen for the watercolor course and 6,000 yen for the oil painting course. Prices include food and drink as well as painting materials.

"The essence of the workshop is to interact with Japanese people and to share experience through activities. It is not only about teaching participants how to paint," Martin said, adding that he is interested in learning the techniques of Japanese painting.

He hopes many Japanese will attend the exhibition and see the positive side of Africa, so that he and his wife can talk about their work and interact with visitors.

Admission for the exhibition is free and most of the works on display will be on sale. Prices range from 7,000 yen to 200,000 yen for Martin's works, while Caroline's pieces are available from about 1,300 yen.