1. Artist: Attributed to Kojo Bonsu
Title: Finial of a spokesperson’s staff (okyeame poma)
Medium: Wood and gold
Size: height 11¼" (28.57 cm)
Date: 1960s–70s
Source/Museum: From Ghana. Ashanti culture. / Sarah Da Vanzo Collection, Johannesburg, South Africa

2. Artist: n/a
Title: Present-Day Africa
Medium: n/a
Size: n/a
Date: n/a
Source/Museum: n/a

3. Artist: n/a
Title: Nankani compound
Medium: n/a
Size: n/a
Date: 1972
Source/Museum: Sirigu, Ghana

4. Artist: n/a
Title: Doll (biiga)
Medium: Wood
Size: height 11¼" (28.57 cm)
Date: Mid-20th century
Source/Museum: Burkina Faso. Mossi culture. / Collection Thomas G. B. Wheelock.

5. Artist: n/a
Title: Twin Figures (ere Ibeji)
Medium: Wood
Size: height 7⅞" (20 cm)
Date: 20th century
Source/Museum: Yoruba culture, from Nigeria. / The University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City. The Stanley Collection ( and )

6. Artist: Margaret Thompson Drewal
Title: Elder guiding small boy in Egungun performance while adult Egungun performer looks on
Medium: Photograph
Size: n/a
Date: n/a
Source/Museum: Yoruba culture, Nigeria. / National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archive

7. Artist: n/a
Title: Two masks in performance
Medium: Wood, mineral pigments, and fiber
Size: height approx. 7' (2.13 m)
Date: 1984
Source/Museum: Dossi, Burkina Faso, Bwa culture

8. Artist: Fred Lamp
Title: Temne Nowo masquerade with attendants
Medium: Photograph
Size: n/a
Date: 1980
Source/Museum: Sierra Leone

9. Artist: n/a
Title: Bwami Mask (lukwakongo)
Medium: Wood, plant fiber, and pigment
Size: height: 22¾" (57.5 cm)
Date: n/a
Source/Museum: UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, Los Angeles

10. Artist: n/a
Title: Power figure (nkisi nkonde)
Medium: Wood, nails, pins, blades, and other materials
Size: height 44" (111.7 cm)
Date: 19th century
Source/Museum: Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire). Kongo culture, / The Field Museum, Chicago. Acquisition A109979c

11. Artist: n/a
Title: Spirit spouse (blolo bla)
Medium: Wood
Size: height 17⅛" (43.5 cm)
Date: Early 20th century
Source/Museum: Côte d’Ivoire. Baule culture. / University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia.

12. Artist: Margaret Drewal
Title: Ifa divination session
Medium: Photograph
Size: n/a
Date: n/a
Source/Museum: Yoruba culture, Nigeria. / National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archive

13. Artist: n/a
Title: Kente cloth
Medium: Silk
Size: 6'10 9⁄16" X 4'3 9⁄16" (2.09 X 130 m)
Date: 20th century
Source/Museum: Ashanti culture, Ghana. / National Museum of African Art and National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, 1983–85, (EJ 10583)

14. Artist: Angelo Turconi
Title: Decorated building (sleeping room for nyim) in the royal compound of the Kuba Nyim
Medium: Photograph
Size: n/a
Date: n/a
Source/Museum: Nsheng, Democratic Republic of the Congo

15. Artist: Eliot Elisofon
Title: Mbop Mabiinc Mambeky
Medium: Photograph. The costume includes elements made from copper, brass, cowrie shells, beads, leopard skin, and eagle and parrot feathers
Size: n/a
Date: 1947
Source/Museum: Paramount ruler (nyim) of Kuba peoples (reigned 1939–69). Prestige attire worn by the nyim for receiving important guests. / National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives

16. Artist: Photograph by William Fagg and Olowe of Ise
Title: Veranda posts
Medium: Wood and pigment
Size: n/a
Date: 1959
Source/Museum: Ikere Palace, Ikere, Nigeria. / Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, London

17. Artist: Olowe of Ise
Title: Door from royal palace in Ikere, Nigeria
Medium: Wood, pigment
Size: height 72" (182.9 cm)
Date: c. 1925
Source/Museum: Yoruba culture. / The Detroit Institute of the Arts. Gift of Bethea and Irwin Green in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Department of African, Oceanic, and New World Cultures ( A)

18. Artist: Eliot Elisofon
Title: Kanaga and rabbit masquerade figures at Dama
Medium: n/a
Size: n/a
Date: n/a
Source/Museum: Dogon culture, Mali. / National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives. (EEPA 3502)

19. Artist: n/a
Title: Initiation wall panels
Medium: Wood, pigment
Size: height 33⅜" (84.8 cm)
Date: Early 20th century
Source/Museum: Nkanu peoples. Democratic Republic of the Congo. / National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Museum purchase,

20. Artist: David A. Binkley & Patricia J. Darish
Title: Inuba entering the community for funeral performance in the company of senior titleholders
Medium: Photograph
Size: n/a
Date: 1981
Source/Museum: Southern Kuba peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo

21. Artist: n/a
Title: Reliquary guardian (Nlo Byeri)
Medium: Wood
Size: height 16⅞" (43 cm)
Date: 19th century
Source/Museum: Gabon. Fang culture. / Musée Dapper, Paris

22. Artist: n/a
Title: Altar (Asen)
Medium: Iron, wood, paint traces
Size: height 44½" (113 cm)
Date: n/a
Source/Museum: Fon peoples, Ouidah, Republic of Benin. / National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Gift of Monique and Jean Paul Barbier-Mueller

23. Artist: El Anatsu
Title: Flag For A New World Power
Medium: Aluminum bottle tops, copper wire
Size: 196 X 177" (500 X 450 cm)
Date: 2004
Source/Museum: Courtesy October Gallery, London

24. Artist: n/a
Title: Divination basket (Ngombo)
Medium: Plant fiber, seed, stone, horn, shell, bone, metal, feather, camwood
Size: 12 1⁄16" (30.7 cm)
Date: Mid-19th–early 20th century
Source/Museum: Chokwe peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. / National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Museum purchase ( )

25. Artist: Julie Mehretu
Title: Dispersion
Medium: Ink and acrylic on canvas
Size: 90 X 144" (228.6 X cm)
Date: 2002
Source/Museum: Collection Nicolas and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, New York