African Art Study Guide Flashcards

These flashcards cover key concepts and details related to African art, as studied in Unit 6.

Great Zimbabwe most likely served elite rulers as a thriving __-century Shona site.

fourteenth

The conical tower of Great Zimbabwe functioned symbolically by referencing the form of a __.

granary

Great Zimbabwe is most similar to __ because of its undulating stone masonry, constructed without mortar.

Machu Picchu

The subject of the Ndop chose to be represented with a carved __ positioned in front of the seated figure.

drum

The artist altered the figure’s anatomical proportions to emphasize the king’s large __, considered the seat of intelligence and wisdom.

head

Art historians believe that Ndop figures incorporated figural representation that served as a __ marker for the Kuba community.

historical

The architects of the Great Mosque of Djenne achieved a rhythmic effect in the facade through a series of __ and engaged columns.

towers

The sculptor of the Benin wall plaque was inspired by the __ scale for viewer’s respect and admiration of the Oba.

Hierarchic

The Yoruba sculptor Olowe of Isle created pieces with elongated forms and dynamic use of __ space.

negative

The use of horns in the Ikenga shrine figure alludes to the aggressive strength of the __.

head

A Lukasa can be attributed to the Luba culture because of its use as a __ device.

mnemonic

Bundu masks reflect cultural values with depictions of fat rolls around their necks, downcast eyes, and small mouths to illustrate ideal __ and morality.

beauty

The nganga drives a nail into a Nkisi n’kondi figure to activate its spiritual __.

power

The veranda post of enthroned king and senior wife (Opo Ogoga) is similar to the Mayan Yaxchilan Lintel in its representation of the importance of __.

royal wives

The inclusion of projecting beams to assist with replastering the mosque demonstrates continuity with the West African tradition of building __ structures.

adobe

The choice of a gold-leaf covering for the Golden Stool (sika dwa kofi) of the Ashanti people was motivated by veneration of the stool as a __ object.

sacred

A traditional characteristic of lukasa vary in surface details, while maintaining similar __ and shape.

size

The female (Pwo) mask demonstrates continuity within the Chokwe artistic tradition through its depiction of the ideal, graceful, and __ woman.

wise

The artist who created the Aka elephant mask continued the Bamileke tradition due to elephants' association with power and __ of kings.

authority

A carved figure with bent knees sits atop a cylindrical bark container filled with ancestral __.

relics

The artist creates formal balance in the plaque from the Kingdom of Benin by producing __ through the placement of the figures.

symmetry

Bundu masks of the Mende peoples play an important role in __ rituals for girls.

initiation

A prevailing interpretation of the Mblo masks of the Baule people in West Africa is their presence, which allows the invisible world to affect the __ world.

human