African Art

Question 1

3 Case Studies

Answer 1

Yoruba art (South-Western Nigeria), Benin Kingdom royal art (South-Eastern Nigeria) & Kuba Kingdom royal art (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Question 2

Yoruba context & main art forms (ones in powerpoint)

Answer 2

Yoruba - a language and ethnic identity, one of the largest African ethnic groups. Highly urbanised, religiously plural.
Ife Kingdom Portraiture, Oyo Empire & the person of the Oba, Wood sculpture, images of the Orisha, Ifa divination arts, ibeji twin figures.

Question 3

Benin Kingdom context

Answer 3

Benin Kingdom - eastern neighbours of the Yoruba. Edo-speaking but heavily influenced by Yoruba culture. Second Benin dynasty was founded by Oranmiyan, the same Yoruba founder as Oyo. Very similar art to Yoruba but has a distinct royal iconography.
Images of the Oba of Benin, Edo (Benin) Royal Altars, Portraiture, Palace Plaques,

Question 4

Kuba Kingdom context

Answer 4

250,000 people, Bushongo-speaking, multiple ethnicities tuled by the Kuba-Bushong. Kongo Kingdom heavily involved in the European slave trade but Kuba upriver so far that bthey had no involvement, didnt come into contact with europeans until 1884.
Bakuba Ndop royal images, royal masquerade.