1. Ancient African Art

2. Elements of African Art
Resemblence to a human being
Ideas about reality
Express ideas about spirits or humans through human and animal images

3. Tankagle Mask Dan, Liberia Cote d’Ivoire Wood, metal, fiber
Spirits of the forest who use masks to appear to the people

4. Luminosity Smooth Surface Decorative shining
Rough surface= ugly and deformed

5. Ere Ibeji Yoruba Nigeria Wood, beads, brass necklaces
Twins bless parents with good fortune
The head is 1/3 the size of the body because a person’s destiny or inner head
Smooth surface without sandpaper

6. Akua’ba Female Statuette
Asante, Ghana
Wood
Induces pregnancy and assures safe delivery
Cared for as a child
Asante is matrilineal

7. Self Composure Subjects are proud, dignified, controlled and cool
Measured and rational way

8. Sowei Mask Mende Sierra Leone Female beauty and Virtue
Neck Creases, good health
Lowered eyes no gossip
Composed inner serenity

9. Youthfulness Most of the subjects are young Vigor Productiveness
Fertility
Rarely shows/depicts illness and deformity

10. Family Group Makonde, Tanzania Wood
Artistic unity, imagination, delicate detail
Made to trade with Europeans

11. Gelede Headdress

12. Gelede cont. Yoruba, Nigeria Wood
Festival honors creative and dangerous powers of women elders, Female ancestors, Goddesses
“our mothers”
Birds dangerous nocturnal powers
Snakes artsy and mastery as well as vigilance

13. Clarity of form, balance and symmetry
High value of workmanship
Mastery of the medium

14. Epa Headdress Yoruba, Nigeria
Epa festival chiefs, farmers, warriors, hunters, priests and women
Men wear this mask while dancing
Herbalists heal and contol evil

15. Chi Wara Headress Bamana, Mali Republic Wood, metal, threads
Farming headress honor the farming animal
Zig zag symbolizes the sun’s path