PRECOLONIAL AFRICAN ARTS

African Art

see also→
Nigerian Art
Benin Republic Art
Burkina Faso Art
Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire Art
Côte d'Ivoire Art
Mali Art
Sierra Leon Art
Guinea Art
Ghana Art
Gabon Art
Congo Art
Cameroon Art

Art happened everywhere in the world but the story of art as a continuous effort started in Egypt, Africa.
Civilisation too, we know,
started in Egypt. This was because the Egyptians had well organized monarchies which commissioned artworks for their burial tombs.
These artworks were the only early works of Africa known to the rest of the world. This is because the Egyptian
works were preserved in the pyramidial tombs.

In other parts of
Africa, there was no intent to preserve the works in the manner of the Egyptians. These works have only come to light through archaeological and anthropological finds of recent times.

We also know that the beginning of art in Egypt was connected with the
Egyptian religious belief.
The artworks of the other parts of Africa were also connected with the traditional religious beliefs and philosophies of African people.

There is the belief in the existence of a supreme being among all the peoples of Africa. This being is given different names in different locations, regions or ethnic groups.
The Yoruba for example, call him Olorun and the lgbo call
him Chukwu. In Hausa, he is known as Allah. In Edo, he is known as Osanobua and in Urhobo, he is known as Oghene.

This supreme being is believed to have control over natural forces and cosmic rhythms. There is also the belief in the hierarchical set-up of invisi-
ble forces and cosmic rhythm which control the visible forces such as animals and plants.

There is also the belief in increase and multiplication as a result of which rain is deitified because it is identified as a force that can help animals and vegetables to grow well.

There is also the belief in the existence of life after death and in forces which affect joy and s sorrow, life and death.
These forces are called upon to influence their lives.

African artworks are therefore, made to establish harmony between these invisible forces and man to enable human beings live a better life while alive.
In this regard, the works are used as protection in homes to ward off evil, keep off thieves and stop enemies during wars.

It is in recognition of this spirit behind artworks that some of them, especially masks, are used in combination with music and dancing to express and celebrate the moral and religious beliefs of the people.

Artworks are also made to serve economic and decorative purposes.
Apart from their use for invocation and incantations, artworks are also used as a form of disguise by hunters so that animals may fall prey to them to be used for food.

On the other hand, traditional African rulers like Obas, Obis and Emperors might Commission artworks for the decoration of their courts and palaces as we can see in Ife and Benin, and for the decoration of trays or stools for the entertainment of guests.

Ancestral figures and masks
Artworks also serve as a
status symbol.
We will find out the main purpose of each work of
art as we discuss some of the major artworks from some countries in Africa.

CLICK -->> African ancestral figures and masks

Comments

TSOEDE ART

Tsoede Some outstanding bronzes now known as Tsoede bronzes were found among the Nupe of Nigeria. The bronzes found in the vllages of Tada, Jebba and Giragi were said to have been brought down there by one Tsoede, the brother of the Atta of ldah who travelled along the River Niger to found the Nupe kingdom sometime in the 16th century. The bronzes are large figures of men and animals. Some of them are the largest cast bronzes and copper found in Sub-Sahara Africa from antiquity. The figures are naturalistic and wear a graceful pose like those of Ife. Some of the figures are ritually bathed by villagers to ensure fertility and good fortune. see also→ Benin Art Igbo-Ukwu Art Esie Art Ibibio Art Ife Art Owerri Art Nok Art

IGBO-UKWU ART

lgbo-Ukwu The people of Igbo-Ukwu in Anambra State of Nigeria have an important bronze-working tradition which prospered about the middle of the 9th century AD. The tradition was brought to light by Professor Thurstan Shaw who did excavations in the area. Most of the works found show evidence of skilful metalwork brilliantly cast and forged in bronze using insects and reptiles as decorative motifs. Male and female figures are sometimes combined with in- sects and reptiles as decorative motifs. Some are also decorated with coloured glass beads and stones. The works suggest ritual objects. This is because in a king's grave, small bronze pendant ornaments in the form of an elephant, leopard and ram heads, most of which were richly encrusted with delicate geometrical decorations, were found. These heads were symmetrically arranged and had flies, beeties and grasshoppers sitting upon them. Pendants in the form of a bird lying on a pair of eggs from which hang strings of bead...

ESIE ART

Esie Esie is a small Yoruba town near llorin in Kwara State. Many soapstone figures where found in the bush near this town. The figures, numbering more than eight hundred, are the largest collection of stone curving in Africa. The figures are full of dignity and are near realism. Some stand on short legs while others sit on mushroom-shaped stools and hold objects in their hands. The figures either wear hats or specially designed head-dresses. They also wear beads around the neck, and sometimes round the wrist. The faces have striations like those of Ife . Some of the female figures kneel in front of water pots. The origin of the figures is not known. They are, however, used as objects of worship. seen also → Benin Art Igbo-Ukwu Art Ibibio Art Ife Art Owerri Art Nok Art Tsoede

LIBERIA AND COTE D'IVOIRE ART

Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire : Dan Ngere The major artwork of Liberia and Cote d'lvoire was the Dan Ngere mask carved out of wood. The mask which has almost the same appearance and form is used for different purposes. One of such purposes is as a channel of communication with their high god, Zan . The spirits of their ancestors are also invoked through the masks. Another function of the mask is its use, especially the one known as Dea , during circumcision. A tall conical headdress indicating beauty is worn with the Dea mask. Two types of the Dea masks have been identified. One is used for teaching initiates into the Poro Society and frightening away women and children from the initiation camp. The other one is worn while collecting food from the mothers of the youths. Some of the masks regarded as the low ones are merely used for entertaining those who have remained behind in the village while initiaton lasted. The carving of the masks is idealized to look like ...

BURKINA FASO ART

Burkina Faso: Mossi and Bobo The major artworks of the Bukina Faso masks are mostly from the people of Mossi and Bobo. The Mossi are a very powerful people who raided and defeated the communities of the plains around them. Such people included the Dogon , Timbuktu, Bagana and Qualata . The Mossi people believe that the horse is endowed with exceptional powers and, therefore, military leaders are regarded as horses. The Mossi masks which are blade-shaped and on which a female figure stands in the background are worn by the military leaders or masters whom they call in their language ' Naba' during the Wango rites. The Mossi and Bobo masks are blade shaped and are carved out of wood. However, the Bobo are painted. The face of the masks is in relief and the back is attached to a high board that is sometimes indented with geometric and coloured motifs as the people's device.

GUINEA ART

Guinea: Kissi and Baga The Kissi of Guinea like the Mende of Sierra Leone carve figures from soapstone. They call these figures Pomdo . The figures are carved with strong vertical axes ánd they wear a smile similar to the archaic smile of Greek art. The Kissi also keep the figures in their rice field to protect the crop and make it prosper. Kissi's initiates wear fibre costumes and paint their faces instead of using masks. Baga The outstanding sculpture of the Baga of Guinea is the mask known as Nimba . The people of northern Baga have a society known as the Simo society which performs ritual ceremonies after the rice harvest. The Nimba mask is worn over the head and rests on the shoulder of the dancer during the ceremony which is per- formed after the rice harvest. Another work of the Baga that is worth noting is the Simo society's drum, which consists of a kneeling figure with other figures round it. It is used during funeral ceremonies of members of ...

BENIN REPUBLIC ART

The Republic of Benin: Fon The major works of the Republic of Benin, are the sculptural works of the Fon people. Some of the works were done on wood but a majority of the durable ones are bronze or brass castings of animals and of people at work or any other activities like processions, hunting and hoeing. In the Republic of Benin, Brass was regarded as an object of prestige. The brasssmiths, therefore, do the works for the wealthy who can afford to buy them and use them to decorate their homes as symbols of wealth.

MALI ART

Mali : Dogon and Bambara The Dogon and Bambara people of Mali are well-known traditional sculptors. Their works are in wood and are mainly ancestral figures and masks. The Dogon wood carvings can be classified into three distinctive styles . The first is the simplified forms of the masks. The second is the cube-like ancestral figures which in recent times are used as decorative motifs on doors and the third, the round freestanding ancestral figures. Sometimes, however, the cubic and the round free-standing ancestral figures appear in one piece especially the round free-standing figures sitting on a carved stool with legs in the cubistic style. Some of the ançestral figures known as Nommo , a spirit associated with their creation, are sometimes represented with arms lifted up. These figures are used for prayers for the restoration of rain. Others, mostly from the Tellem area of Dogon , are used to call upon the force or god of fertility and birth and for the purificat...

IBIBIO ART

Ibibio The Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria have a tradition of ancestral figures and mask carvings in wood. The ancestral figures are composed of geometrical forms mostly cones, spheres and cylinders carved out of single blocks of wood. The faces are bearded and are attached to the body by a thick neck. The shoulders are wide with arms that are round and well muscled. The torsos are narrow while the abdomens are round. The legs are not given any importance, being shorter than the arms. Many of such figures are found in Oron. The masks are very naturalistic and are carved for the Ekpo Society which represents a spirit. The Ekpo mask is from Ikot Ekpene and is worn during dances and rituals of the Ekpo society. Such masks have found their way into other parts of Nigeria. The masks are decorated with glossy paint and are worn along with raffia by boys who move from house to house dancing and singing during festivals. Apart from the carving of the ancestral fig...

SIERRA LEON ART

Sierra Leone: Mende Among the Mende , in Sierra Leone, two types of sculpture prevail. These are figures in soapstone called Nomoli and wooden masks used by the female initiation ceremonv of the Sande society . The mask is called Bundu by the Sande society . The Sande society prepares and initiates young Mende girls into responsible adult life. During the ceremony of initiation, the young woman wears the mask and looks out through slits made beside the jaw at the level of the mouth. The Nomoli figures which are carved out of soapstone, also known as soft stone, are used to encourage fertility. The figures are kept in rice fields to protect the crop and enable it to yield well. The Mende believe that the figures are expected to steal rice plants from the nearby fields. If this is not done successfully, the figures would be beaten. The figures have big, powerful heads and the limbs are projected forward to represent a man leaning against a back-rest.

Awesome African Cultures

Search This Blog