1. African Aesthetics Beauty defined- Manifestations of beauty: outer and inner The useful, the functional, the complete, the appropriate The Head– outer and inner Houses the vital sense organs Site of personality center of spirituality Shrine, being, destiny

2. Group of stylized abstract heads representing, inner spiritual head--site of personality Yoruba, (Ita Yemoo, Ife) Nigeria, terracotta, h. 13 cm(5 in); 19 cm(7.1/2 in); 16.5 cm (61/2 in) 16 cm (6 3/8 in)

3. Aesthetic parameters: Clarity Ephebism-youthfulness Completeness Shining smoothness Social and emotional proportion Polyrhythmic compositions Art as metaphor

4. Ibeji twin memorial figure, Yoruba, Nigeria Wood, 20 th cent. (Yiyo) relative clarity, completeness, and visibility

5. Lajuwa, royal usurper Terra-cotta, Ife, Yoruba, 12/15 th cent. (odo) Ephebism: relative youthfulness

6. Ooni, Leaded brass, Appr.18.in. Ife, Yoruba, 14/15 th cent. (Pipe) completeness & emotional proportion

7. Head of a Queen, Ife, (Yoruba), Nigeria Terracotta, 12 th -13 th Century 800-700 BP (Before the Present)

8. Bronze Plaque, Appr.21.in. Benin, Nigeria, 17 th cent. Aesthetics of social proportions

9. Sango Shrine Sculptures, Yoruba, Nigeria Wood, 20 th cent. -aesthetics of social proportion

10. Sowei mask, Mande, Sierra Leone Wood, 20 th cent. Aesthetics of shining smoothness

11. Woman wearing silver jewelry Harar, Somalia

12. Fulani Woman in a market, Mopti, Mali, 1970

13. Fulani women at a ceremony Celebrating masculine beauty and charm, Niger Republic, 1980

14. Balangandans, silver and gold pendants Worn by Afro-Brazilians since at least the Early 19 th century. Detail from a painting By Jean Baptiste Debret done in Brazil In the 1820s

15. Kente, hand-woven fabric, Ghana, 20 th. Cent, aesthetics of polyrhythms

16. Adire, dyed cotton, Yoruba, SW Nigeria, 20 th cent. polyrhythmic composition

17. Linguist staff, Wood, gold leaf, 20 th Cent. Metaphor of leadership

18. Fon Flag, Applique, Democratic Republic of Benin, 20 th century

19. Royal Umbrella, Fon Applique, cotton, D.R. Benin, 20 th century.

20. Egungun masquerade, sequined applique, cotton, Yoruba Southwestern Nigeria, 20 th century.

21. conclusion