african |
portuguese traders in the early th century although the! Forms and materials employed in, these developments are of external derivation the subject matter and style are manifestly african it is the artists working under these influences who are forming the arts distinctive of the. Particular nation states of modern day africa john picton sculpture and associated arts although wood is the best known medium of african sculpture many others are employed copper alloys iron ivory pottery unfired clay and infrequently stone unfired clay is, and probably always was the most widely used medium in the whole continent but partly because it is, so. Fragile and therefore difficult to collect it has been largely ignored in the literature small figurines of fired clay were excavated in a mound at daima near lake chad in levels dating. From the th century bc or earlier while others were found in zimbabwe in. Deposits of the later part of the st millennium ad these imply an even earlier stage of! Unfired clay modeling about the time of these lower levels at daima which, represent a neolithic or new stone age pastoral, economy there was flourishing farther to the west the, fully iron age nok culture producing large hollow sculptures in well fired pottery some of the stylistic features of which imply yet earlier prototypes in wood copper alloy, castings using the cire perdue. Lost, wax! Technique afford evidence of great sculptural achievements from as early as the th century ad when the smiths of igbo ukwu nigeria were casting leaded bronze which is highly ductile, and smithing copper which is not some three, or! Four centuries later the smiths of ife seemingly unaware that unalloyed copper was not suitable. For casting or perhaps wishing to demonstrate their virtuosity used it to produce masterpieces such as the seated figure in a shrine at tada and the so called obalufon mask in the ife museum in fact however zinc brasses were used more than unalloyed copper, the largest corpus of this work is from benin where zinc brasses were used almost exclusively these copper alloy castings together with pottery. Sculptures the traceable history of which goes back even further are the main evidence for the early history of sculpture in sub saharan africa wrought iron sculptures are, found in a number of traditions mostly in west africa including the dogon bambara fon and yoruba peoples stone sculpture occurs in several separate centres employing both hard! And soft rock but there is usually not much evidence of a development through time in a single place ivory is a highly prized medium in many parts of africa its fine texture makes it suitable for delicate sculpture while its rarity leads to its employment in many societies for items of great prestige african wood sculptures are carved with similar tools throughout the continent an ax may be used to fell the tree but an adz with its cutting edge at right angles to the shaft is used for the substantive work of carving the skill achieved with this tool is astonishing to the western observer thin shavings can be removed, with speed and accuracy creating a surface especially when the form is convex that shows slight facets that catch the light and add to the visual interest more intricate work is done with knives a pointed iron rod heated in the fire may, be employed to bore. Holes in a mask for attachment to the costume and to permit, the wearer to see the surface of the sculpture is, sometimes polished with the side of a knife or sanded. Down with rough, leaves details are commonly picked out by a, method involving charring with a red hot knife as among the ibibio of nigeria. Or the carving is immersed in mud to darken its surface before, oiling as among the dan people of, côte d'ivoire west africa scholars divide the visual arts of west africa into three broad areas the western sudan the guinea coast and nigeria this is done partly to enable the outsider to comprehend the diversity of styles and traditions within the region while recognizing that there are themes common to all of the areas western sudan this is, the name conventionally given. To the savanna region of? West africa it is an area dominated by states situated at the southern ends of the trans saharan trade routes the sculpture here is characterized by schematic styles. Of representation some commentators have interpreted. These styles as an accommodation to the domination of the area but this is probably not an adequate explanation since islam in west africa has either merely tolerated or actually destroyed such traditions while exerting other influences among the better known sculptural traditions of the western sudan are. Those of the following peoples dogon and tellem the dogon inhabit the bandiagara escarpment, in mali dogon sculpture is intimately linked with the cult of the ancestors figures are made, to house the spirits of the deceased on the family shrine and masks are used to drive the spirits away at the end of the mourning. Period one type of mask called sirige has a tall flat. Projection above the face a feature found also in the masks of the neighbouring mossi and bobo which is said to represent a multistory house the great. Mask never worn and made, anew every years represents the primordial ancestor who met death while he was in the form of a serpent iron staffs topped with human figures are also made and some personal ornaments are cast in brass also found in dogon. Territory are possibly the oldest wood sculptures to survive three have been dated by carbon to the th– th centuries ad they were found in caves in the bandiagara escarpment the dogon attribute them to an earlier population. The tellem these figures usually. Of simplified and elongated form often with hands raised seem to be the prototype of the ancestor figures that, the dogon carve on the doors and locks of their houses and granaries investigations have confirmed that the tellem were ethnically a different people from the dogon though the art style, appears to have been handed on from, one people, to the other bambara, photograph bambara dance headdress of wood in the form of an antelope representing. The spirit. Tyiwara who … bambara dance headdress of wood in the form of an antelope representing the spirit tyiwara who … the bambara live, in the region around bamako the capital of mali their traditions include six male societies each with its own type of mask the ntomo is for young boys before circumcision their masks have a line of vertical projections placed transversely over the human face representing man as god first created him the komo is the custodian of tradition and is concerned with all aspects of community life—agriculture judicial processes and passage rites its masks are of elongated animal form decorated with actual horns of antelope quills of porcupine bird. Skulls and other objects masks of the kono which enforces civic morality are also elongated and encrusted with sacrificial material the tyiwara uses, a headdress representing in the form of an antelope the mythical being who taught men how to farm see photograph the kore concerned with the sky and with the bringing of rain to make the crops grow employs masks representing the hyena lion monkey antelope and horse in addition there. Are masks of the nama which protect against sorcerers ancestor figures of the bambara clearly derive from the same artistic tradition as do many of those of the dogon so also do their sculptures in wrought iron rectangular intersection of flat planes is a stylistic feature. Common to bambara and dogon sculpture djenné mopti djenné. And mopti are two towns situated on the inland delta of the niger river in mali they are notable as centres of the cloth trade and for their architecture moreover in, their immediate vicinity many sculptures in pottery of uncertain age have been found they may have some association with the empires of ghana and mali th– th and th– th centuries respectively for all their extensive trade contacts. Across the sahara these medieval empires did. Not significantly change the basic structure of society in the western sudan senufo the senufo of northern côte d'ivoire produce a rich variety of sculptures mainly associated with the lo society known more widely as the poro to which all men belong and which maintains the continuity of religious and historical traditions especially through the cult of! The ancestors during initiations. Headpieces are worn that, have a flat vertical round or rectangular? Board on top decorated with paint or pierced work many wood carvings of male figures depict these headpieces sometimes on rhythm pounders used by young initiates who. Beat the earth to call upon the ancestors to take part, in the ceremony and purify the earth several types of, mask are used, the kpelie a, human face with art projections. All around is said to remind initiates of human imperfection animal head masks usually combine characteristics of several creatures—hyena warthog and antelope a, type of animal mask called waniugo has! A cup for a magical substance on top these masks blow sparks from their muzzles in a nighttime ritual protecting the village from sorcerers among the naffara group of the senufo masks of similar form but with an interior cavity too small for a, human head are carried on the top corner of a rectangular tentlike costume called kagba this mask. Is the symbol of the lo which only initiates. May see in the korhogo region deguele masks appear, in pairs at funerals they are of plain helmet shapes topped with figures. Whose, bodies are carved to resemble a pile of rings figures. Of the. Hornbill are used in initiation and groups of birds on a pole are trophies for the best farmer figures of male and female twins and of horsemen are used in divination these represent the spirit familiars enabling the divination process the diviners themselves are women forming the sandogo society, shrine doors and drums are carved in relief and small figures and ritual rings are cast in bronze for many years the senufo have been producing large quantities of carvings for the western market guinea coast this is the forested! Region of west africa where islam was not a dominant. Influence until recent years political organizations in the past tended to, be small in scale with government sometimes in the hands of chiefs sometimes, by assemblies of men sometimes, by secret, associations manifesting, their attributes in, masquerade ceremonies state systems developed toward the eastern end of the region particularly in areas inhabited by, the asante in present day ghana see asante empire and fon benin. And in the yoruba oyo empire and the edo kingdom of benin nigeria these. States! Capitalized on trade both with peoples of the savanna and from the late th century onward with europeans guinea coast sculpture displays a greater tendency to naturalistic styles of representation some of the best known traditions of the area are the following bidyogo in the bijagós islands of guinea bissau the bidyogo carve, rather simplified human figures seated on stools bowls supported by human figures with human and animal forms on the lids and staffs with figures on them. They also carve. Naturalistic masks of wild bulls which are carried on the prow of the royal war canoe and also used in dances their buildings are round and often painted baga the baga th or th century migrants from the sudan now, occupying the coastal region of guinea carve anok or elek bird heads with human features styled in a manner resembling western sudanic work they had rich traditions of mask and figure sculpture many of which were suppressed with the advent of islam the best known of these, is the massive dumba mask with its great cantilevered head supported on the upper part of a female torso carved so as to rest on the shoulders of the wearer who sees out through a hole between the breasts his body hidden in raffia fibre this mask appears at the harvest and threshing of the rice crop tall drums, supported by a human figure are, also carved mende the mende of sierra leone are best known for smooth black helmet shaped masks representing the sande society which is responsible for initiating girls into womanhood this is the only women's society on the continent known to use masks because the mask is found beside a stream deep in the forest where the sande spirit is, said to live and is supposed not to. Be an artifact at! All the carver in this case is anonymous members of the corresponding male society poro also wear masks although they are of differing form the, women's yasse a divination and healing society employs slender human figures called minsere large ugly gongoli masks are also used but entirely for entertainment in preparing their rice farms the mende often. Uncover figures carved in soapstone and known as nomoli which they set up in shelters to protect the crop the figures are similar in style and are thought to be similar in date to ivories carved in the th century for, portuguese traders in the adjacent sherbro area dan, ngere the dan ngere complex of styles is, named after two extremes of stylistic variation the smooth restrained style of the. Dan de and diomande and the grotesque style of the, ngere or guere wobe kran. And bete a less extreme form of which. Is found among the kru graffiti university of the photo galleries drawings storeand grebo who inhabit adjacent regions of liberia guinea and côte d'ivoire a single carver will produce masks. In both of the extreme modes of the range of style miniature easily portable masks representing and sharing in the power of the larger masks protect the owner when he is away from home the carvers also produce the large anthropomorphic rice ladles used by the mother of the heir apparent at the harvest feast chiefs'. Staffs and female figures that seem, to be, prestige items as are small figures cast in brass among the. Dan and kpelle asante and baule photograph an asante chief wearing silk cloth and gold jewelry an asante chief wearing silk cloth and gold jewelry the asante region of southern ghana is. A remnant of the asante empire which was founded in the early th century when according to. Legend a golden stool descended from heaven into the lap of the first king osei tutu the stool is believed to house the spirit of the asante people in the same way that an individual's stool, houses his spirit after death the. Asante also carve akua ba dolls with disk shaped heads embodying their concept of beauty and carried by women who want to, become pregnant as well as staffs for royal spokesmen which like the handles of state, swords are covered in gold foil, the success of the asante empire depended on the trade in gold not only, with europeans at the coast but also! With the north gold dust was the currency, weighed arty against small brass weights that were often geometric or were representations recalling well known proverbs. Asante weavers developed a style of great technical mastery incorporating imported silk see photograph cast brass ritual vessels kuduo used in funeral ceremonies bear indications of inspiration the asante also cast fine gold jewelry as do the baule of côte d'ivoire who separated from. Them in the mid th century museum baule gold. Weights are similar to those of the asante but the baule also have types of sculpture that none of the other akan peoples possess masks which like their low! Relief doors seem to indicate senufo influence and standing human figures apparently sometimes used as ancestor figures the figures and human masks the latter reported to be portraits used in commemorating the dead are elegant—well polished with elaborate hairdressings and scarification more roughly finished are the gbekre figures representing minor divinities in human form with animal heads masks are, made also to represent the spirits of the bush antelope bush cow elephant, monkey and leopard boxes for the mouse, oracle. In which sticks are disturbed, by a live mouse to give the augury are unique to the baule whose carvers also produce heddle pulleys combs hairpins and gong mallets fon photograph fon iron image of gun the god of iron and war dahomey in the musée de l'homme paris, … fon iron image of gun the god of iron and war dahomey in the musée de l'homme paris … the fon kingdom of dahomey with its capital at abomey now in benin was also founded in the early th century. The palace is, decorated with painted relief panels modeled in clay representing the different, kings and the events of their reigns the kings are represented also by iron painter staffs and messengers' staffs with openwork iron. Symbols on a wooden haft as well as by a small number of large wooden statues combining human and animal attributes the thrones of the kings are similar in form to asante stools but are much taller and are preserved as cult objects small figures cast in brass often in groups are prestige items employed also to decorate the royal tombs brightly coloured appliqué cloth is used on state umbrellas. And chiefs' caps a popular art is calabash carving the greatest achievements of fon art however are the large sculptures for gun the god of iron and war made from sheets of copper or iron see photograph nigeria the northern. And southern parts of nigeria can be considered part of the western sudan and guinea coast respectively but because of the wealth of evidence. For an artistic tradition of some years it is convenient. To consider nigeria separately nok photograph pottery head found at nok nigeria in the jos museum, nigeria height cm pottery head found at nok nigeria in the jos museum nigeria height cm the earliest known sculpture. Of large size in the sudan is that produced in pottery by the nok culture which flourished extensively in northern nigeria from the th. Century bc into the early centuries ad see photograph these people were the first known manufacturers of iron in western africa furnaces at taruga! Having been dated between the th and early rd centuries bc they continued however to use stone tools of, well fired clay their sculptures represent animals naturalistically human figures however are depicted with heads that are usually tubular but sometimes conical or spherical and with simple tubular trunks and limbs the art of nok indicates the antiquity of many basic canons. Of west african sculpture but the precise relationship between ancient and modern forms is obscure daima and sao not far from the nok area but very different in style at daima near lake chad small simple clay animal figures were by the th century bc being made by, a population of neolithic. Herdsmen a little later they began making animals with more extended legs and sometime after, ad they started to make animals covered with little spikes the last are similar to examples found on sites of, the sao culture in the chari valley cameroon where more elaborate human figure sculptures thought to represent ancestors and probably spirits have been. Found carbon dates for these sites range from the th century bc to the th century ad ife and yoruba the yoruba peoples inhabit, a large part of southwestern nigeria their art traditions are of considerable antiquity excavations at ife in central yorubaland the site of the creation of the world in? Some yoruba myths, have shown that naturalistic sculpture in brass and pottery was being produced sometime between ad and the sculptures may represent. Royal figures and their attendants, and life size portrait heads in brass were perhaps used. As part of funerary effigies during this time ife appears to have had widespread importance and the naturalism of its art seems to have influenced the basic development of yoruba sculptural style throughout yorubaland human figures are represented in a, fundamentally naturalistic way except for bulging eyes flat protruding and usually parallel lips and stylized ears the evolution of these characteristics can be observed. In a number of pottery. Sculptures at ife, which nude on stylistic. Grounds are considered to be relatively late within the basic canon. Of yoruba sculpture many local styles can be distinguished down to the hand of the individual artist individual cults too have their own characteristic requirements of form and ethnography staffs for shango the thunder god bear the symbol of a double ax on. His altars are placed carved mortars for the pounding of food in. A mortar sounds like thunder on the wall behind hangs his leather bag with a motif, based on the extensive gesture of a shango dancer because shango was king of oyo largest of the yoruba kingdoms his cult is mainly restricted to areas that were once under oyo domination typical of ekiti is the epa cult which is connected with both the ancestors and agriculture the mask proper roughly globular has highly stylized features that vary little but the superstructure which may be feet cm or more, in height is often of very great complexity—for example. A king on horseback surrounded by two tiers of attendant warriors and musicians the most widely distributed cult, is of twins ibeji, whose birth among the yoruba is unusually frequent their effigies made on the instructions of the oracle are among the most numerous of all classes of african sculpture carved doors and house posts. Are found in shrines and palaces and in the houses of important men fulfilling purely secular functions are bowls for kola nuts offered in welcoming a guest ayo boards for the game known also as wari played with seeds, or pebbles in two rows of cuplike depressions and stools spoons combs and heddle pulleys to the north is esie where about sculptures in soapstone were found by the local, yoruba population. Some centuries ago their origin is obscure they are by no means certainly yoruba the city of owo to the southeast of yorubaland near the frontier, with the edo speaking peoples developed an art, style—indeed a whole culture—that is a blend of yoruba and benin traditions ivory carving is especially important and wooden heads of rams and of humans with rams' horns are used. On ancestral altars second burial effigies life size and naturalistically carved in wood were made during the th century but were developed from wickerwork forms such as are still used in benin and in igbo towns once, under benin influence excavations in revealed a large number of pottery sculptures that are clearly related to those of. Ife but with some benin features, the site was dated by carbon to about the th, century ad edo peoples according to tradition the kingdom of benin was! Founded from ife whence in the late th century knowledge of brass casting may have, been introduced into benin city for the manufacture of commemorative heads for royal altars these heads have been grouped in stylistic sequence from moderate naturalism through increasing stylization the brasses also include. Figures in the round groups on a, common base and plaques the rectangular shape of |