African Art

Music, Art, Performance and CultureBallenger 2010

Africa

• Immense continent• Long-established• Highly developed

cultures• Sophisticated art forms

for centuries.

• Cush 700 B.C. ancient Egyptian empire

• Nigeria flourished 1000 years ago

• Compare this to the U.S• How old is the U.S.A.?

Akan (ah-kahn)

• A group of peoples in Western Africa speaking Akan languages, including the Baule of Cote d’Ivoire, the Asante and the Fante of Ghana.

• These people joined together in the 18th Century in order to form a powerful confederation of states.

• The Asante was the largest of these groups to join together.

Yoruba (yor-ruh-BAH)

• A group of West African people living chiefly in southwest Nigeria.

The Visual Arts in Africa

• Even in modern nation states the visual arts are integrated with other art forms.

• Music, dance and drama

• It’s role is important in the religious beliefs

• Religious beliefs are intertwined with the culture.

Dominant Themes

• Birth• Death• Roles of men, women,

and children• Coming of age

• Sickness and healing• Importance of food and

water• The human relationship

with nature

Comparing Cultures

• As we learn about African art let’s think about other cultures and the role of the Visual Arts.

Birth

• Akuaba: Small disc-headed female figures made of wood by Akan carvers.

• Represents the idea of a healthy, perfect child.

• A pregnant woman, or one wanting to get pregnant would carry it around and care for it like a real child.

• Kept as remembrance , teaching device for girls, or placed in a shrine.

• Exaggerated features.

Akuaba

• Prefer girls• Round Face• Long flat foreheads• Ideal• What are some cultural

ideals in American culture?

Music, Dance and Costume

• Boys Initiation• Bandi people• Boys leave home to

learn special skills necessary to being an adult in society

• What are some coming of age traditions in other cultures?

• Girls Initiation• Girls leave their homes • Go to secluded school

for several months• Learn skills necessary to

being an adult woman in society

Kente Cloth

• A brilliantly colored and patterned fabric that became the royal cloth.

• Woven in narrow strips.• Stitched together to

form large pieces with complex patterns.

• Silk• Gold dust-designs

Jewelry

• Adult women wear elaborate silver jewelry.

• Worn for weddings• Security for women• What do other cultures

use as symbolism for marriage.

Necklaces

Asante Stool

• Asante (ah-SHAN-tee): An Akan people of Ghana, formerly united in the Asante kingdom.

Masquerade

• A full costume, including a face covering, or mask.

• Nigerian Masquerade

Griot

• Rather than written history some cultures carry on oral traditions.

• Stories are passed down from generation to generation.

• Oral historians who are also musicians and performers.

Gods and Rulers

• Rulers considered gods.• Kingship and divinity • Living kings having

divine powers

• Louis XIV ruled France under the belief that eh had been given his throne directly by God.

Role of Men and Women

• Warriors and leaders • Healer as leader

Cycles: African Life Through Art

• http://www.imamuseum.org/interactives/cycles/

• The information contained in this power point come from the website listed here and from Chapter 12 in your Art in Focus textbook.

Art of Africa and African-American Artists

Ballenger2015

Edward Mitchell Bannister

• 1828-1901• Providence, RI• Story in a New York

paper• 1st to win a major award

Henry Tanner

• 1859-1937• Philadelphia• Pennsylvania Academy• Student of Eakins• Landscape to genre • Stayed in America

Edmonia Lewis

• 1845-1890• Greenhigh, Ohio• Half Native American &

Half African American