Unit 6 Africa

Conical Tower and Circular Wall of Great Zimbabwe

Conical Tower and Circular Wall of Great Zimbabwe

• Date of Creation: 1000-14000 c.e.

• Culture/Artist:Shona peoples

• Location:Southeastern Zimbabwe

• Movement:African art

• Media:Coursed granite rocks

• Function:Place of government for kings; separated royalty from commonfolk; location for long distance trade, spotting enemies

The Great Mosque of Djenne

• Date of Creation: 1200 c.e.; rebuilt  from 1834-1836, then again from 1906-1907

• Culture/Artist: Malian

• Location: Floodplain of the Bani river in Djenne, Mali

• Movement: African art

• Media: Adobe mud brick

• Function: place of worship; political + cultural & Economic center

Wall Plaque from Oba’s Palace

• Date of Creation: 16th century ce

• Culture/Artist: Edo Peoples

• Og Location: Kingdom of Benin (Nigeria)

• Movement: African Art

• Media: Cast Brass (The work was created by using the lost-wax technique. Lost-wax casting is a traditional Benin art form that can be identified by the fine detail in the work as well as its hollow form)

• Function: The plaques show court rituals that occured in the palace, in the order it occured in. It shows the history of the kingdom and expresses royal power and also demonstrates British Imperialism during the scramble of the European powers taking over Africa.

Sika dwa kofi (Golden Stool)

• Date of Creation: 1700 ce

• Culture/Artist: Ashanti People

• Location: south central Ghana or Kumasi Ghana

• Movement: African Art

• Media: Gold over wood and cast-gold attachments

• Function: This stool is the divine throne of the Ashanti People. The stool is used in celebrations and processions Believed to embody the spirit of the Nation. Bells on this stool warn the king of danger

Ndop (portrait figure) of King Mishe miShyaang maMbul

• Date of Creation: 1760-1780 ce

• Culture/Artist:Kuba peoples (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

• Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Movement: Arts of africa

• Media: Wood 

• Patron: Kuba King Mishe miShyaang maMbul

• Function: recorded his reign for posterity and solidified his accomplishments

Power figure (Nkisi n’kondi )

• Date of Creation: late 19th century

• Culture/Artist:Kongo peoples 

• Location:Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Movement: Arts of africa 

• Media: Wood and metal 

• Function:  Part of tradition: Serve as reminders of social obligations and enforces good behavior; healing and protection; aimed at ‘curing’ physical, social or spiritual ailments.

Female (Pwo) Mask

• Date of Creation: late 19th to early 20th century

• Culture/Artist: Chokwe peoples, made by a man 

• Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Movement: Indigenous African Art

• Media: wood, fiber, pigment and metal

• Function: Used by male dancers to honor Pwo, a female deity who represents fertility and was also the founding mother of the Chokwe lineage.

Portrait Mask (mbilo)

• Date of Creation: Early 20th century

• Culture/Artist: Baule Peoples

• Artist: Owie Kamou

• Location: Côte D'ivoire

• Media: Wood and Pigment

• Function:  Honoring matriarch of the family, also honoring ancestors. Part of a masquerade, called gbagba, was intended to entertain and offer social relief at the end of a long day of chores. 

Bundu Mask

• Date of Creation: 19th-20th century

• Culture/Artist: Sande Society, Mende Peoples

• Location: West African forests of Sierra Leone and Liberia

• Movement: West African Art

• Media: Wood, Cloth, And Fiber

• Function: Initiation rite for young girls turning into womanhood.  Was worn by women

Ikenga (shrine figure)

• Date of Creation:19th to 20th century ce

• Culture:Igbo peoples

• Location: Nigeria

• Media: wood 

• Function: Celebrates the Igbos belief in the importance of individual achievement

• A source of strength and power for the owner, held the spirit (Chi) of the owner. Kept in a personal Shrine at home, Emphasize the power of the right hand.

Lukasa (Memory board)

• Date of Creation:19th to 20th century ce

• Culture/Artist: Mbudye Society, Luba peoples

• Location:Democratic Republic of the Congo)

• Media:Wood, beads, and metal

• Function: Used as a way to record and remember important times and events in the Luba People’s society

Aka elephant mask

• Date of Creation:  19th to 20th century c

• Culture/Artist: Bamileke Peoples

• Location: Cameroon, western grassfields region, Africa

• Media: Wood, woven raffia, cloth, and beads

• Function: meant to be used in performance-Purpose to honor the king and bring social harmony and political stability. Was worn by Bamileke who were titleholders, warriors, and court officials. 

Reliquary figure (byeri)

• Date of Creation: 19th to 20th century ce

• Culture/Artist: Fang peoples 

• Location: southern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea

• Media: Wood

Function: Guard family reliquary boxes from the “forbidden gaze of women and uninitiated boys” & evil spirits, talisman (an object with supernatural properties that protects from evil and brings good luck), Sometimes were consulted when considering an important decision, Sometimes used as puppets to teach their ancestral history to young men of the society, Express certain spiritual ideas (not naturalistic)

Veranda post of enthroned king and wife

• Date of Creation: 1910-1914 CE

• Culture: Yoruba peoples

• Artist: Olowe of Ise

• Location: Ikere, Nigeria

• Movement: African art

• Media: wood and pigment

• Patron: by the yoruba ruler

• Function: As part of a set of 4 posts used to hold up the porch of the Palace, also depict the king’s  grandeur while humbling him