African Islamic Art

What is the Nok Head (Nigeria, Nok culture, c. 500 – 200 CE)?

Terracotta sculpture; one of Africa’s earliest known; expressive stylized features; likely represents ancestors or leaders

What is the Yoruba King (Ife Broze Head)?

Cast brass royal portrait; naturalistic; shows Yoruba metal-casting skill and divine kingship

Describe the Great Zimbabwe Conical Tower and Walls.

Shona peoples; dry-stone royal/trade center; symbol of power and prosperity

What is the Great Mosque of Djenne?

Mali; adobe (mudbrick); community replastering; “living architecture”

What is Biete Ghiorgis (Church of St. George)?

Lalibela, Ethiopia; rock-hewn monolithic Christian church; carved from living rock pilgrimage site

Describe the Power Figure (Nkisi Nkondi)?

Kongo; wood with nails/charms; ritual oath-taking, protection, justice

What is the Female Mask (Mende)?

Sierra Leone; used in women’s initiation; embodies ideals of beauty, morality, transformation

What is the Queen Mother Pendant Mask (Iyoba)?

Benin, Nigeria; carved ivory; honors Queen Mother Idia; wisdom, motherhood, royal authority

What is the Veranda Post of Enthroned Kind and Senior Wife by Olowe of Ise?

Yoruba; carved wood, dynamic composition; shows royal hierarchy and female spiritual support

Describe the Bieri Reliquary Figure (Fang)?

Gabon; woof guardian for ancestor relics; balances virality and serenity

In African art, art is considered what?

Functional, spiritual, and communal

Sculpture in African art is often used for what?

Ritual or performance; expressive and symbolic

What are major African art themes?

Ancestry, power, gender, initiation, and protection

Define nkisi nkondi.

Power figure containing spiritual forces used for protection or justice.

Define bieri.

Fang ancestor-reliquary guardian figure

Define scarification.

Decorative or symbolic scarring on the skin, often marking identity or status.

Define masquerade.

Ritual performance using masks, dance, and costume to embody spirits or ancestors.

Define initiation.

Rite marking transition into adulthood or new status, often involving secret societies or masks.

How does African architecture express faith?

Through materials/design tied to community ritual and environment (Great Zimbabwe, Djenne Mosque, Church of St. George)

How do Nkisi Nkondi and Bieri Figures show ancestral power?

Both mediate between living and spirits; enforce morality and protection

How do female imagery works express gender and leadership?

Female Mask, Queen Mother Mask, Veranda Post emphasizes women’s beauty, authority, and spiritual influence.

What defines Islamic art?

Art expressing Islamic belief through calligraphy, geometry, vegetal motifs, and architecture—avoiding figural imagery in sacred contexts.

Why is calligraphy central in Islamic art?

It conveys Qur’anic words—considered sacred visual expression of divine speech

What are arabesques?

Interlacing vegetal patterns symbolizing infinite creation.

What is a muqarnas?

Stalactite-like architectural ornament found in domes and niches.

What are common Islamic architectural elements?

Dome, minaret, mihrab (prayer niche), qibla wall (direction of Mecca), courtyard, hypostyle hall.

What tole do geometric designs play?

Reflect divine unity and order; avoid naturalism in sacred settings.

Significance of Dome of the Rock?

Earliest Islamic monument; site of Prophet Muhammad’s Ascension; Byzantine-influenced mosaics; Qur’anic inscriptions

Features of Great Mosque of Cordoba (Spain)?

Horseshoe arches, alternating voussoirs, hypostyle hall, reuse of Roman columns.

Why is Great Mosque of Kairouan (Tunisia)?

Early hypostyle mosque; models later congregational mosques.

Characteristics of Alhambra Palace (Granada, Spain)?

Stucco decoration, muqarnas domes, water symbolism, poetic inscriptions.

Significance of Taj Mahal (Agra, India)?

Mughal mausoleum built by Shah Jahan; perfect symmetry; marble inlay; gardens symbolize paradise

Features of Mamluk Glass Lamp?

Enameled and gilded glass; Qur’anic light verse’ used in mosques

Why are Sinan’s Mosques important?

Central-dome Ottoman design; harmony of light and space; expresses divine unity.

How does Islamic art express faith without figural imagery?

Through abstraction—geometry, calligraphy, vegetal motifs

What do gardens and water symbolize in Islamic art?

Paradise, purity, and eternal life.

How does Islamic architecture foster community?

Courtyards, mosques, and madrasas serve as centers of worship, education, and social gathering.