African Empires African Empires and Cultureand Culture

ArtArt

From the royal masks of the Benin From the royal masks of the Benin people to the monster masks of other people to the monster masks of other tribes, Africans used their art to tribes, Africans used their art to express religious traditions. express religious traditions.

Africans used bronze, wood, clay, cloth, Africans used bronze, wood, clay, cloth, iron, and gold in their artwork.iron, and gold in their artwork.

Besides sculpture, pots, and masks, the Besides sculpture, pots, and masks, the Africans made jewelry and clothes with Africans made jewelry and clothes with great respect for tradition and quality.great respect for tradition and quality.

Masks: Mystery in Masks: Mystery in MotionMotion

A monster mask to keep the evil spirits away

• Masks were the most wildly imaginative of all African sculpture.

• Animalistic masks like the Baule bull’s head, the grooved lion’s head and the Ngere warthog were worn during rites of initiation into adult status, as well as in ceremonies of the secret societies in West and Central Africa.

• Events such as funerals, festivals and other important occasions were almost always accompanied by fierce dancing in masks.

• Masked dancers often felt themselves possessed by spirits and would go into deep trances and dance for hours without stopping.

• Abstract designs in the form of surface texture and decoration often had a deep spiritual significance in African art.

• Geometric patterns like the ones seen at left were known to have had mystic powers so important that they reappeared in many forms, including ceremonial scarring and tattooing.

• Other patterns represented the more ordinary spirits that lived in such material objects as fabric and yarn.

Patterns in Patterns in ObjectsObjects

• The figures to the left follow the Guro artists’ traditional style of carving women’s head with a pronounced forehead curve, pursed lips and roundness at the back.• Individual artists have stamped their particular work with lively originality such as an exaggerated hair arrangement, an ornate neck decoration or sharp nose. Such variations on an established theme constantly infused new vitality into traditional African carving.

Shape and Shape and VariationVariation

Shape and Shape and VariationVariation • If a slightly raised

chin or new inclination of the headdress seemed to give more energy to the figure, this subtle angle was incorporated into the tradition of the tribe’s art.• The man who could produce added power through sculpture was a valuable member of his society.• His kinsmen believed such accomplishments raised him above other men.

Houses for Houses for SpiritsSpirits

• In Africa, tribal sculpture was seldom created to be enjoyed as “art”.• Each piece was designed to attract and contain specific religious spirits.• An ancestor figure (far left) was carved as a home for the spirit of a long-dead chieftan.• Without the presence of such spirits, a piece of sculpture had little value.• If a wood carving began to rot or crack, another figure was made to replace it, and the first piece, no matter how beautiful, was discarded as worthless.

Music and DanceMusic and Dance

To Africans, dancing was the most To Africans, dancing was the most important art. Dance combined religion important art. Dance combined religion and everyday matters. For example, and everyday matters. For example, there were dances to mark the beginning there were dances to mark the beginning of a hunt, marriages, holidays, etc.of a hunt, marriages, holidays, etc.

Both men and women took part in Both men and women took part in dances.dances.

Africans pounded on rocks before they Africans pounded on rocks before they learned how to stretch hides over hollow learned how to stretch hides over hollow logs to make drums.logs to make drums.

Music and Dance contd.Music and Dance contd. A good African drummer could make his A good African drummer could make his

drum “speak” in words and sentences drum “speak” in words and sentences that were understood by other that were understood by other tribesmen.tribesmen.

Drums were used to send messages from Drums were used to send messages from one village to the next. A drum message one village to the next. A drum message could be sent a hundred miles in two could be sent a hundred miles in two hours by a series of drummers.hours by a series of drummers.

Many drums were considered sacred and Many drums were considered sacred and only used in certain religious only used in certain religious ceremonies.ceremonies.

Role of WomenRole of Women Women played a Women played a

surprisingly active role in surprisingly active role in early life in the African early life in the African empires.empires.

There was a strict division There was a strict division of labor between the men of labor between the men and the women. and the women.

Women tended cattle , Women tended cattle , were responsible for were responsible for raising the children, and raising the children, and gathered and prepared gathered and prepared the food for the family.the food for the family.

Women also made Women also made baskets, pottery, baskets, pottery, bracelets necklaces, awls bracelets necklaces, awls and other objects for and other objects for household and personal household and personal use.use.

Role of WomenRole of Women

Ancient Africans had a deep-seated respect for Ancient Africans had a deep-seated respect for women. women.

Early man did not know the link between sex and Early man did not know the link between sex and birth. Therefore, it was believed that new life was birth. Therefore, it was believed that new life was created by the woman, the mother alone. created by the woman, the mother alone.

Another important contribution of ancient woman Another important contribution of ancient woman can be seen in the fact that as the gatherer of can be seen in the fact that as the gatherer of grains, seeds, roots berries and plants led to the grains, seeds, roots berries and plants led to the practice of organized cultivation. practice of organized cultivation.

The respect for women was reflected in society The respect for women was reflected in society and the seriousness and consideration women and the seriousness and consideration women were given. In Egypt and Kush the importance of were given. In Egypt and Kush the importance of the mother was seen in the facts that the children the mother was seen in the facts that the children took their surname from the mother and that the took their surname from the mother and that the mother controlled both the household and the mother controlled both the household and the fields. fields.

In traditional Africa, women had recognized and vital roles In traditional Africa, women had recognized and vital roles in the economic development of their communities.in the economic development of their communities.

Women were the major food producers and thus not only Women were the major food producers and thus not only had ready access to land but also had authority of how the had ready access to land but also had authority of how the land was to be used and cultivated. Therefore, the value of land was to be used and cultivated. Therefore, the value of women’s productive labor in producing and processing women’s productive labor in producing and processing food established and maintained their rights in the food established and maintained their rights in the domestic and other spheres. domestic and other spheres.

Moreover, in much of pre-colonial Africa, bridewealth Moreover, in much of pre-colonial Africa, bridewealth gave women a certain amount of economic independence gave women a certain amount of economic independence and clout. and clout.

Women dominated the positions of spiritual and religious Women dominated the positions of spiritual and religious power in most African traditional societies. They were power in most African traditional societies. They were responsible for announcing dates and times of ceremonies, responsible for announcing dates and times of ceremonies, rites and rituals. These women were oracles, spirit rites and rituals. These women were oracles, spirit mediums, knowers, seers and advisors. These women had mediums, knowers, seers and advisors. These women had the power to place and remove curses. the power to place and remove curses.

Role of WomenRole of Women

BeliefsBeliefs

Nearly all Africans believed in a single Nearly all Africans believed in a single “High God” from whom all things flowed. “High God” from whom all things flowed. Beneath the High God, lesser gods ruled Beneath the High God, lesser gods ruled human affairs.human affairs.

Africans had gods of storms, mountains, Africans had gods of storms, mountains, rivers, snakes, seas, trees, lions, and just rivers, snakes, seas, trees, lions, and just about everything that affected their about everything that affected their lives. lives.

Within every tribe, several people were Within every tribe, several people were thought to communicate with the gods. thought to communicate with the gods.

BeliefsBeliefs

Africans also worshipped their Africans also worshipped their ancestors. Many dances, songs, and ancestors. Many dances, songs, and works of art were made to contact works of art were made to contact relatives long dead.relatives long dead.

Many Africans believed in sorcery Many Africans believed in sorcery and witchcraft. There was good and witchcraft. There was good magic and bad magic. Africans often magic and bad magic. Africans often used witch doctors to help them used witch doctors to help them break evil spells or avoid bad luck.break evil spells or avoid bad luck.

African Magic CharmsAfrican Magic Charms Threatened by unknown forces, and Threatened by unknown forces, and

sometimes by hunger and beasts of prey. sometimes by hunger and beasts of prey. Africans, enlisted the aid of magic.Africans, enlisted the aid of magic.

Their techniques were derived from everyday Their techniques were derived from everyday experience; objects that worked were widely experience; objects that worked were widely copied and gradually became standardized copied and gradually became standardized and stylized into symbolic magical devices.and stylized into symbolic magical devices.

Some of the most common African charms:Some of the most common African charms:Pieces of Straw- protect crops from harmPieces of Straw- protect crops from harmBundles of Feathers- guard occupants of a roomBundles of Feathers- guard occupants of a roomAnimal Teeth- keep off wild animalsAnimal Teeth- keep off wild animalsIron Bracelets- promote fertilityIron Bracelets- promote fertilityHeavy Anklets- protect weak childrenHeavy Anklets- protect weak children