Unit 2: African Art Quiz

Title: Apollo 11 Stones

Author: Namibia

Material: Charcoal on Stone

Function/Context: Uknown, behavioral communication in early humans

Title: Running Horned Woman 

Artist: Tassili n’Aijer, Algeria

Material: Pigment on Rock 

Function/Context: emphasis on composite figures (connection to the Divine, supernatural figures)

Title: Conical tower and Circular Wall of Great Zimbabwe

Artist: Shona Peoples 

Material: Coursed granite rocks

Function/Context: Non defensive structure symbolizing power/wealth among ruling elite, King’s prosperity, genorosity, and control over community resources 

Title: Wall Plaque from Oba’s Palace

Artist: Edo’s People (Benin, Nigeria)

Material: Cast Brass

Function/Context: to document and glorify the Oba's reign, wealth, and power by decorating the palace walls to show royal history, court life, and key historical events, impress visitors, show Oba’s authority 

Title: Sika dwa kofe (Golden Stool)

Artist: Ashanti Peoples (South Central Ghana)

Material: Gold over wood, cast iron attachments

Function/Context: Embodies Ashanti People’s pride for nation, collective spirit, unity, and royal authority

Role in religious/political ceremonies (remembering ancestors, binding present and future generations to one another)

Title: Ndop Figure

Artist: Kuba People

Material: Wood

Function/Context: commemorative memorial portrait, honoring the king's accomplishments, embodying the ideal of kingship, and providing a historical record in a culture that relied heavily on oral tradition

Title: Power Figure

Artist: Kongo Peoples

Materials: Wood, iron, glass, ceramincs

Function/Context: represents dispute resolution, spiritual/medicinal substance that only few have access to, when medal is removed = power is diminished, connection to divine world

Title: Female (Pwo) mask

Artist: Chokwe peoples

Materials: Wood, fiber, pigment, and metal

Function/Context: made to honor women (matrimanial culture), used during initiation of young boys to adulthood (worn by men to appreciate women, not impersonate)

Title: Portrait mask (Mblo)

Artist: Baule peoples

Materials: wood and pigment

Function/Context: worn during masquerades, form of entertainment, communicate to distinguished members of trip and ancestors

Title: Bundu mask

Artist: Sande Society (Mende People) 

Material: Wood, cloth, fiber

Function/Context: Worn on top of head (helmet), rolls = health, beauty, able to bear a child, small ears/mouth = not participating in gossip

Title: Ikenga (shrine gure)

Artist: Igbo People

Material: Wood

Function/Context: Carrying sword, composite figure, spiritual images of being successful, human power/pro activity, personal alter for Igbo man (achievements, power, destiny)

Title: Lukasa, memory board

Artist: Luba Peoples

Materials: wood, beads, metals

Function: to serve as a physical mnemonic device for the Luba people of Central Africa to recount and perform history during spiritual rituals

Title: Elephant Mask

Artist: Kuosi Society 

Material: beads, woven raffia, wood, cloth 

Function/Context: Honors king, brings social harmony, embodiment of elephant, leopard through iscolceles triangles (wise, respected, fierce)

Title: Reliquary figure

Artist: Fang Peoples

Material: Wood

Function/Context: guardians atop reliquary boxes containing ancestral relics like skulls and bones, warding off evil spirits and the uninitiated while symbolizing connection to ancestors

Title: Veranda Post

Artist: Olowe of Ise, Yoruba Peoples

Material: Wood and pigment

Function/Context: Used at cornoations, emphasis on females in power rather than males, power of feminity, queen bestowing power onto king