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The Arts of Africa: Exploring Cultural Significance and Artistic Expression

This chapter delves into the multifaceted role of art in African cultures, emphasizing its integration with music, dance, and drama. It highlights themes of life, death, and gender roles through various art forms, including ancient Yoruba sculptures and masquerades, the art of the Mali Empire, and the skilled craftsmanship of Benin. It discusses the symbolic meanings of artworks across different regions and their connections to spirituality, mythology, and social structures. By examining masks, carvings, and textiles, this chapter presents a rich tapestry of Africa's artistic heritage.

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The Arts of Africa: Exploring Cultural Significance and Artistic Expression

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  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 • Located in Nigeria • Yoruba sculpture • Images of the Kings/ Queens • Added a sense of stability to the period

  4. Yoruba Sculpture • Metal sculptures • 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. 1907 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

  20. African Wooden Sculptures • Figures/ masks • Variety of styles • 1000 + cultural groups • Each has its unique traditions • Artistic traditions cross geographic boundaries

  21. 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

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

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

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

  25. Primordial Couples/ Spirit Spouse • Primordial couple: • 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

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

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

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