Ghana

Ghana is a west African country situated between the Ivory Coast on the west, Togo on the east, Burkina Faso to the north and the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic ocean) to the south. The total surface area is roughly 92,100 square miles. Lake Volta, which is the worlds largest artificial lake takes up about 3,5% of the surface area. The climate is tropical in the southern parts, and hot and dry in the north. This region in particular is prone to severe drought. The arable land is only 16% of the total surface area. Ghana is rich in natural resources such as gold, timber, oil, silver and manganese. Agricultural products include cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava, peanuts, corn, shea nuts and bananas. People The total population is 21 million people.

Kente Cloth Kente Cloths are strips of fabric woven by hand in the colours that represent Africa. Red - Life and Blood Blue - Innocence Green -Mother Africa, Mother Earth Black - People and Unity Gold - Strength and Fortune Strips are sewn together to make cloth. Always woven from cotton threads. When: Celebrations: Weddings, Births, Graduations, Ceremonies to bring in new leaders; Whenever you want to respectfully show your African heritage. Why: To symbolize African culture Where: Most examples are from Ghana but are worn in Africa, America, and wherever people show African heritage.

Lesson 1 Discuss the difference between geometric and organic shapes and lines. Design geometric patterns of stripes, squares, diamonds, triangles, etc. on the paper strips. Each ‘square’ should have a different pattern. Add colour to your design. Remember colours are very important in Kente cloth. Do your best to keep the colors clean and not muddied. This can also be done with coloured yarns or cut out paper? (gum shapes?) Divide your strip into squares, each square should have a different pattern.

Lesson 2 Trace your Kente pattern, use a pencil and press hard. Transfer this onto a polystyrene printing strip by rubbing on the back of your design. Use a biro to press into the design on the polystyrene. You can check your design by taking a rubbing with a crayon.

Printing Experiment by making different paper surfaces, you might want to stick down tissue paper, paint colours or use collage. Your teacher will now demonstrate how to print. You might want to achieve a higher level by including things like wool to make it 3d? You could try printing on fabric?

What Next? Consider what you can do with your strips? We have some examples of items made by our link school in Ghana to show you!

Ashanti Adinkra Symbols in Metal Repousse

African Masks African Masks - African Mask Design Lesson Introduction There are two main forces that influence the style of an African tribal mask: 1. The traditional style that reflects the social and religious beliefs of the community. 2. The individual vision of the carver. African tribal artists do not try to create a perfect representation of their subject. Although some realistic portraits are made, others celebrate more abstract qualities like nobility, beauty, courage, mischief and humour. They create an idealized version, emphasizing those elements that they consider most important.

Healing Mask

Ancestor Masks Masks of human ancestors, that a clan or family can trace its ancestry to are sometimes the object of family pride. They are considered as the place where the spirit is now living (possessing), they may honor the masks with ceremonies and gifts. Some cultures also suggest that wearing a mask allows the wearer to take on the characteristics of the mask's specific representations, An example of an early African Ancestor Mask

Task You are going to design your own ancestor mask, celebrating your ancestry Make a list of anything that is particular to your life or family (Go as far back as you like) Is your family sporty? Fought in a war? From a particular country/ countries? Famous for something? Do you have a family crest? Next to each item draw something to represent it – you might need to look in books or research online to help you.

Design your Mask Consider at least 2 different designs for your ancestor mask. Be inspired by the simplified and bold African masks. Decide what shape to use, this may have a meaning too?

Simplify things such as eyes, to make them more stylised Noses too! and mouths!

Finally Add on your symbols, patterns etc to represent your ancestry. Draw each symbol big and bold Consider how you might fill any empty space with pattern or colour? If you find drawing difficult you might be able to use collage to start with.

Your Mask There are a number of ways to make a mask. Clay raised slab with relief pattern Papier Mache using a balloon as a form Card strips woven into a mask shape. Your teacher will discuss this with you !