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Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve. The Arts of Africa. 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. Art of Ancient Ife. Yoruban beginnings Located in Nigeria Yoruba sculpture

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Chapter Twelve

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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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