How to Make an African Shishi

Drill two holes in the bottom on opposite sides of an old garden pot. One hole will be for the wire of an electric pump, the other will be for the water hose. To add an African style to your Shishi, select a pot that best captures the essence of this continent. A safari-theme would be one option, or a design that includes bright colors and a striking, jagged design.

Place the electric pump in the bucket with the wire and hose through the holes, and feed the hose through a bamboo pole, placed vertically in the pot. At the top of the pole, another bamboo pole should be inserted horizontally, so the water can move up the bamboo and trickle out the top into the pot.

Fit a grill about four inches below the top of the pot with the bamboo pole sticking through it. Cover this grill in stones to hide the pump itself and fill the pot with an adequate amount of water for the fountain to continually cycle it.

Insert two more bamboo poles into the ground next to the pot with a horizontal bamboo pole fixed in the middle by nails so it can see-saw back and forth. The nails should be located slightly off center so the horizontal pipe naturally rests on a rock, with the other end of the pole directly under your falling water. A stopper should be placed inside the horizontal bamboo pipe at the mid section.

To add more African style to your Shishi, consider decorating the fountain with African sculptures. These are usually available in garden centers or online, and can be placed in the fountain or around it. Adding plants of African origin is also a good idea, and combines the best of both cultures. An example of these would be orchids, of which 479 different species are indigenous to southern Africa.

Turn your fountain on. The water should rise up the first vertical pipe and flow out into your horizontal pipe. As the horizontal pipe fills, it will gradually tip forward, empty into your pot, and rock back into place, striking your rock as it does so.