African Art

African Art

Art and Status

• Dress as an indicator of status.
• Dress in African art conveys messages about:
  • Status
  • Ancestry/Family Lineage
  • Cultural Beliefs

Lesson Objectives

• Analyze the relationship between status, art, and ancestry in Africa.
• Examine the representations of the spirit world in African art.
• Analyze the portrayal of Western culture in African art.
• Discuss features of contemporary art in Africa.

Key Terms

• Gwami
• Nulobayeri
• Lolobah
• Kikaku
• Nkanda
• Uli

Art About Status

Finial

• Gilded sculpture of a seated man holding an egg.
• Gold symbolizes power and wealth.
• The egg represents power and authority, requiring careful handling.
  • Holding it too tightly leads to breakage (abuse of power).
  • Holding it too loosely results in it slipping away (loss of control).
• Used as a reminder of caution in handling power.

Bija Dal

• A doll of the Mossi people, symbolizing mature beauty.
• Similar to a Barbie doll, it is cared for by young girls.
• Elaborate hair design portrays ideals of womanhood.
• Elongated breasts symbolize fertility.
• Scars above the belly and on the legs mark the birth of the firstborn child.
• Kept until womanhood, accompanying her to her husband's home as a sign of health and fertility.
• Worn on the back to promote fertility.

Initiation Rituals

Lega People

• Developed political system based on Buami (different levels).
• Six tiers of Buami, with movement based on character and initiation fee.
• Initiation fee requires help from relatives and friends, discouraging feuds and promoting social stability.

Mask

• Comes from the second level of Buami.
• Smaller masks are attached to the hip or held in hand during initiation rituals.
• Simple oval shape with a heart-shaped face and shallow concave features.
• Long beard made of natural materials.
• White color from white clay used as pigment.
• Masks symbolize continuity between the living community and ancestors.

Ancestry

Nullo Bayeri

• Used by the Fang people to represent family ancestors.
• Guards family and ancestor against evil spirits.
• Relics (bones and skull) of important family members placed in a box.
• Nullo Bayeri placed on top of the box to represent the ancestors and guard the relics.
• Carved in a naturalistic style with a carefully arranged hairstyle, fully rounded torso, and muscular legs and arms.
• Perfectly symmetrical, as symmetry was important to the Fang people.
• Villages organized in a symmetrical pattern to create order in a disorderly world.

The Spirit World

Blolo Ba Statue

• Represents the other world's spouse.
• Symbolizes the highest ideals of beauty and is used to help people achieve new status.
• Caring for these dolls pleases the spirit world spouse, restoring balance and harmony.
• Helps individuals develop and prosper in their current life.

Portrayal of the West

Kikaku

• Used by the Nicanu people to illustrate important values during initiation rites (Nenkonda).
• Panels illustrate the presence of the West in Africa.
  • Figure in the middle represents a European colonial administrator.
  • Flanked by two Belgian colonial forces (forcepublique).
• Caricatures served as a passive-aggressive way to confront colonial domination without direct confrontation.

Contemporary Art

• Reflects society and modernization in Africa.
• Changes to traditional African art:
  • New Materials
  • Aluminum bottle and copper wire

Flag for a New World Power (2004)

• Uses aluminum bottles and copper wire to weave a masterpiece together.
• Surface design and pattern called Uli are rooted in tradition.

Dispersion (2002)

• Created by Julie Mehretu, an artist born in Ethiopia residing in New York City.
• Modern artists express their African identity in new ways.
• Some use traditional inspiration, while others are rooted in tradition.
• Use of new materials (paint on canvas).
• Uses modern art forms and colors to express movement and change in Africa.