The Art of West Africa Study Notes

The Art of West Africa

Head of an Oba
- Year: 1550
- Origin: Nigeria
- Material: Brass (Ife)

Archaeological Sites: An area where artefacts and fossils have been found and excavated for further discovery.
Radiocarbon Dating: A scientific method for determining the age of an object by measuring the decay of carbon isotopes.
Terracotta: A natural clay that is fired and hardened, typically with a rich orange-brown color.
Iron Smelting: The process of extracting iron from ore using heat.
Modelling: A sculptural technique using a soft material like clay shaped by hand.
Firing: The hardening process for clay in a kiln or fire.
Cast: A sculptural technique that involves making a mold and pouring a liquid medium into it.
Naturalistic: Art that is based on nature but not necessarily realistic.
Idealized: Artistic representation that enhances reality to make subjects appear more beautiful or refined.
Figurative: Art that is representational and recognizable, showing objects like people or animals.

2300 BCE: Egyptian envoy Harkhuf arrives in Nubia, establishing trading relations that persisted.
1000-300 BCE: Phoenicians and Greeks founded settlements along North African coast to trade with regions in sub-Saharan Africa, enhancing trade routes across the Sahara.
600-700 CE: Spread of Islam across North Africa, followed by increased interaction between Islamic merchants and sub-Saharan Africa. Islamic scholars documented West African empires.
1400 CE: European explorations into the Atlantic and along the African coast.

Timeframe: 500 BCE - 200 CE
Characteristics:
- Occupied the Jos plateau in Northern Nigeria.
- Recognized for advanced artistic styles and iron smelting technology as early as 400 BCE.
- Over 150 sculptures excavated, notably terra-cotta figures.
- Evidence of significant agricultural development, including grain and oil-bearing seed cultivation.

Style Features:
- Eyes: Triangular or D-shaped; anatomical holes for air during firing.
- Hairstyles: Sculpted with large buns, often pierced for ornaments.
- Ornaments: Necklaces, armlets, and other prestige symbols depicted in sculptures.
- Representation of Society: Sculptures may depict ordinary individuals or high-status figures, suggesting social hierarchy.
Sculpture Description:
- Boldly modeled in terracotta with various representations of animals and humans.
- Notable features include spherical and conical heads with stylized facial attributes and expressions.
- Artifacts are remnants of an earlier cultural tradition likely influenced subsequent West African art forms.

Vanished from the archaeological record by the 3rd century AD. Influenced subsequent cultures like the Greeks in Europe and the Olmecs in Mexico extensively.

Historical Significance: Major religious and political center in southwestern Nigeria.
Artistic Development: Long evolution of figurative sculpture, with early examples dating back to the 12th or 13th century.
- Featured works include heads with intricate hair details and lifelike qualities.
- Head examples show careful modeling of human features with an idealized aesthetic.

Technique: Modeled in terracotta or cast in copper/zinc alloys.
Facial Features: Heads exhibit diverse expressions, hairstyles, and potential ornamental accoutrements.
- Prominent Examples: "Head of a Queen," showcasing sensitive modeling and elaborate hairstyles, exceptional attention to facial structure.