Africa Flashcards
Tower cone wall circle. Royal complex where recourses kept. Surroundings are dense and passages mimic, narrow. Stuff stored to show power.
Conical tower and circular wall of great Zimbabwe, shona peoples, 1000-1400 CE, coursed granite blocks.
Islamic place of worship, constantly repaired because rain washes away ,drainage system and ladder system to fix. A market surrounded the mosque, And dejenné was part of the Saharan gold rush. Ostrich egg decorations represent fertility. No iconography because those are considered idols. Build up to prevent floods in rainy season.
Great mosque of Djenné, mali, founded 1200, rebuilt 1906-1907, adobe.
Oba is king of Edo people. Hierarchical scale, oba is largest and stepping on body of fallen leader, mouth covered. Emphasize ruler and power. Decorating plaque in Palace. Celebrates over, Benin brass has stolen. Shows horse because horses important in Africa. Oba has squirrel because Coral is middle man and so is over between Spirit God.
Wall plaque from oba’s Palace, Edo peoples, Kingdom of Benin, Nigeria, 16th century, cast brass
Wood covered in gold, no touch, stool placed on stool. Contain sole of Ashanti Kingdom. Stool brought down from heaven by a priest. There are replicas. When there is a new king he is lifted over the stool. There was a war because a British person sat on the stool. British allowed Ghana Independence but with de facto and they actually weren’t quite independent
Sika dwa kofi, Ashanti peoples, South ghana, 1200, gold over wood and cast Gold elements
Rubbed with oils to protect from bugs because wood. In proportionate body, head bigger than body. Holds knife of peace. Ndops are made when King dies, vessels for transfer of power. Idealized, base has symbols to commemorate King that and calls on Kings knowledge and power. Legs cross symbolize transfer of power.
Ndop of king mishe mishyanng mambol, kuba peoples, Democratic peoples of the Congo, 1760 10th 1780, wood
Reverse voodoo doll, stick figure with metal to help heal person. Nkisi means medicine. Emphasized belly button, put blessings in belly buttons so spirits inside can absorb the offering. Metal pieces wake up spirit. Connection to umbilical cord.
Nkisi n’kondi, Kongo peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo, late 19th century, wooden metal
Female face with large geometric eyes in intricate hair. Mask made by men to honor women, ceremony where men on our female ancestors because being able to give birth is power. Men dress feminine. Masks not kept in a special place after. Mark’s around eyes could be tears
Female pwo mask, chokwe people, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 19th to 20th century, wood, fiber, pigment and metal
Mask. Long nose, broad forehead. Features represent wisdom. The mblo performance honors people with dance and mask to honor a specific person. In ceremony person dresses up as a person they are honoring and the honoree comes with them. After performance mass given as gift to honoree. Idealized
Mblo portrait mask, baule peoples, Cote d’Ivoire, 20th century, wood and pigment
Mask for a coming of age ritual for girls. Sits on top of head and raffia grass covers body. dressing up as river god sowei. Neck rings represent water. Oil to protect. Rub skin with white Earth that dries cracked, go into River and rubbed with sands of River where spirits live. When they come out natural skin is showing, like butterfly and caterpillar. Remove privates to heighten childbirth pain to show giving life is powerful.
Bundu mask, sande society, Mendes peoples, 19th to 20th century, would cloth fiber
No King so people are more aggressive in must earn rank based on merits. Statue honors right hand which does most achievements because most people are right-handed. Abstract and human and facial features, some have horns. Ikenga means strong right arm. Nomadic group so must be small. As people have more success, more ikengas are made.
Ikenga, Igbo peoples, nigeria, 19th to 20th century, wood
Back looks like turtle shell, front has beads. Hourglass shape easy to hold. Remember it’s achievements or events of a ruler, tells a story to remind the reader. Beats represent people or events, only Court historians can read. Stories of migration, genealogy, kings and achievements. People who can read or make are in the society. Turtle lives on opposite kinds of places like people who founded are opposites. Kongolo mwamba wants power. Mbidi Kiluwe wants cross structure and sophistication.
Lukasa, mbudye society, Luba peoples, Democratic Republic of the congo, 19th to 20th century, wood beads and metal
Elephant mask, made for warriors originally, now used in ceremonies but others. Goes on top of head, pieces hang in front of face. Red represents life or blood, white is healing ancestors and bones, black represents night. Ceremony happens every 2 years to convey power in cosmic purpose.
Aka elephant mask, Bamileke, Cameroon, 19th to 20th century, wood raffia cloth and beads
Unproportionate figure that is crouching / sitting, rubbed in oil to protect from bugs. Emphasized belly button in privates to show circle of life. Would have sat on basket of Bones to guard it. Ancestors important and because group is nomadic they travel with their ancestors bones. Protects male ancestors from gaze of women or young boys. In prayer pose that goes with death.
Byeri, fang peoples, cameroon, 19th to 20th century, wood.
Pillar for Palace in Ikere. Sculpture with lots of negative space in vertical.Olowe of Ise was artist for three kings of yoruba peoples, carved this for one. Senior wife is standing behind the king’s chair. Hierarchical scale, way larger than Junior wife kneeling below King. King is seated with crown, the senior wife is supporting him. Bird on his crown represents mother. Flute player on left, attendant is missing
Veranda post of enthroned King and Senior wife, Olowe of Ise,(yoruba peoples), 1910-1914, wood and pigment.
