1. Chapter Twelve
The Arts of Africa

2. The Role of Art in African Cultures
Visual integrated with:
Music, dance, and drama
Present/ spiritual:
Emphasizes life/ nature
Dominate themes:
Life, death, gender roles

3. Art of Ancient Ife Yoruban beginnings Yoruba sculpture
Located in Nigeria
Yoruba sculpture
Images of the Kings/ Queens
Added a sense of stability to the period

4. Yoruba Sculpture Metal sculptures Division of labor Lost-wax process
Collaborative: women created the clay/ men cast the metal
Division of labor
A Yoruban standard

5. Yoruba Religion and Philosophy
World consists of two realms:
1) Aye: can be seen/ touched
2) Orun: supernatural; ancestors, gods and goddesses

6. Yoruba Religion
Aye artwork: realistic
vs.
Orun artwork: abstract

7. Portrait of a king. Ife, Nigeria. 11th – 15th century

8. Yoruba Masquerade
Masquerade: full costume including a face covering or mask
Engungun: cloth masquerades
Dance symbolizes: past, present, future

9. Engungun Costume. Yoruba people. Nigeria. 19th – 20th century.

10. Art of Mali Empire Documents rise of city-states
Figure characteristics:
Strong profiles
Heads held high
Sturdy necks
Represent King Sundiata’s army

11. King Sundiata Epics passed on by griots: oral historians
Stories of hunters/ warriors accomplishing supernatural feats

12. The Great Friday Mosque
Outer façade:
Tall, narrow columns
Adobe brick with wooden support beams
Monumental proportions

13. The Great Friday Mosque. Jenne, Mali
The Great Friday Mosque. Jenne, Mali reconstruction of 13th century original.

14. Kingdom of Benin Southern Nigeria
Society of many classes
Deep oral tradition
Excelled in the creation of copper alloy sculptures

15. Benin Sculptures High relief sculptures
Figure of oba: the king
Power reflected in size of figure
Parallels kingdom’s central organization

16. The Asante Kingdom Central and coastal Ghana Gold = measure of wealth
Power from God
Items fashioned from gold worn to designate divine authority/ absolute power

17. Kente Cloth
Kente cloth: a brilliantly colored and patterned fabric (royal cloth)

18. Ancient Kingdoms of Ethiopia
Center of Christianity during 4th century
Known as Aksum
7th century Moorish invasion

19. Ethiopian Crosses
5th century decree for all Ethiopians to wear crosses
Originally made from bronze then silver
Large ceremonial crosses

21. African Wooden Sculptures
Figures/ masks
Variety of styles
cultural groups
Each has its unique traditions
Artistic traditions cross geographic boundaries

23. Carved Figures
Azde: ax-like carving tool with an arched blade at right angles to the handle
Single pieces of wood
Finished work resembles the shape of the log

24. Carved Figures Proportions reflect culture:
Symmetric front pose
Disproportionally large heads
Little suggestion of movement
Created for various reasons

25. Ancestor and Cultural Heroes
Sculptures = resting places for spirits
Effective link between living and deceased

26. Minkisi Democratic Republic of Congo
Elaborate rituals dealing with social problems
Contain ancestral relics

28. Primordial Couples/ Spirit Spouse
Dogon people of Mali
Inspiration to living
Spirit Spouse Figures:
Baule people of the Ivory Coast
A mate who lives in the invisible realm
Mirrors visible world

29. Primordial Couples/ Spirit Spouse
Help Baule men/ women imagine the existence of a dream world
Form closer relationships with their spirit mates
Harmonious real world relationships

30. Masks Form/ function differs from people to people
Concept of a “mask” includes:
Ritual/ ceremony and performance
Made to be seen in motion
Song and dance
Mainly only worn by men

31. Masks of the Bwa People Bwa people of Burkina Faso Ancient form
Leaves, plant fibers, porcupine quills, and feathers
Ancient form
Associated with nature and regenerative power

32. Helmet Masks Mende people (Sierra Leone) Cover entire face
Women’s society
Education/ initiating into society
Cover entire face
Delicate face/ high forehead