🖼AP Art History Unit 6 – African Art, 1100–1980 CE

Historical Context and Timeline

• African art from 1100-1980 CE spans a vast period marked by significant cultural, political, and social changes across the continent
• The rise of powerful kingdoms and empires (Mali, Songhai, Benin) fostered the development of distinct artistic traditions and patronage
• The trans-Saharan trade routes facilitated the exchange of ideas, materials, and artistic influences between Africa, the Middle East, and Europe
• The Atlantic slave trade (16th-19th centuries) had a profound impact on African societies and artistic production
  • Displacement of skilled artisans and disruption of traditional art forms
  • Emergence of new art forms reflecting the experiences of enslaved Africans in the Americas
• Colonialism (late 19th-mid 20th centuries) introduced Western influences and led to the suppression and transformation of indigenous artistic practices
• Post-colonial period (1960s-1980s) saw a resurgence of African cultural identity and the development of modern and contemporary African art movements

Key Regions and Cultures

• West Africa
  • Akan people (Ghana and Ivory Coast) known for their intricate gold weights and jewelry
  • Yoruba people (Nigeria) renowned for their elaborate masks, sculptures, and textiles
  • Benin Kingdom (Nigeria) famous for its bronze and brass plaques and sculptures
• Central Africa
  • Kongo people (Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola) recognized for their power figures (nkisi) and carved ivory objects
  • Kuba people (Democratic Republic of Congo) celebrated for their intricately woven raffia textiles and carved wooden cups
• East Africa
  • Swahili culture (coastal regions of Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique) known for their intricate wooden doors and furniture adorned with Islamic-influenced motifs
  • Ethiopian Orthodox Christian art characterized by illuminated manuscripts, processional crosses, and church murals
• Southern Africa
  • San people (Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa) recognized for their rock art depicting hunting scenes and spiritual beliefs
  • Zulu people (South Africa) known for their beadwork, basketry, and ceremonial staffs (izimboko)

Major Art Forms and Mediums

• Sculpture
  • Carved from wood, stone, or ivory
  • Cast in metal (bronze, brass, gold)
  • Terracotta and ceramic figures
• Masks
  • Carved from wood or crafted from fabric and fibers
  • Used in religious ceremonies, initiation rites, and performances
• Textiles
  • Woven from cotton, raffia, or other plant fibers
  • Dyed using natural pigments and adorned with intricate patterns and symbols
• Jewelry and Metalwork
  • Gold, silver, and copper used to create intricate jewelry and ceremonial objects
  • Beads made from glass, stone, or shells used in adornment and trade
• Architecture
  • Earthen and mud-brick structures (mosques, palaces, and houses)
  • Stone-built monuments and ruins (Great Zimbabwe)
• Body Art
  • Scarification, tattooing, and body painting used for aesthetic and symbolic purposes
  • Hairstyles and headdresses conveying social status and cultural identity

Symbolism and Meaning

• Animals
  • Snakes, crocodiles, and birds often represented spiritual forces and ancestral spirits
  • Leopards and lions symbolized power, leadership, and royalty
• Geometric Patterns
  • Zigzags, spirals, and concentric circles conveyed spiritual and cosmological concepts
  • Adinkra symbols (Ghana) represented proverbs, aphorisms, and philosophical ideas
• Human Figures
  • Ancestors and deities depicted in sculptures and masks
  • Royalty and leaders portrayed in commemorative and ceremonial art
• Colors
  • Red associated with life, blood, and spiritual power
  • White linked to purity, peace, and the spirit world
  • Black connected to wisdom, maturity, and the ancestors
• Scarification and Body Modification
  • Patterns and designs conveyed social status, cultural identity, and rites of passage
  • Symbolized spiritual protection and aesthetic beauty

Artistic Techniques and Materials

• Woodcarving
  • Subtractive process using chisels, knives, and other tools to shape and refine the form
  • Hardwoods (ebony, mahogany, and iroko) favored for their durability and rich colors
• Metalworking
  • Lost-wax casting used to create intricate bronze and brass sculptures
  • Hammering, embossing, and chasing techniques employed in jewelry and decorative objects
• Weaving and Textile Production
  • Strip weaving using narrow bands of fabric to create larger textiles
  • Kente cloth (Ghana) woven from silk and cotton threads in vibrant colors and patterns
• Pottery and Ceramics
  • Hand-building techniques (coiling, pinching, and slab construction) used to create vessels and figures
  • Burnishing, incising, and slip decoration added for aesthetic and symbolic purposes
• Beadwork
  • Glass, stone, and shell beads strung or woven into intricate patterns and designs
  • Used in jewelry, clothing, and ceremonial objects
• Dyeing and Pigments
  • Natural dyes extracted from plants, minerals, and insects
  • Indigo, kola nuts, and camwood commonly used to create vibrant colors

Influential Artists and Works

• Olowe of Ise (c. 1875-1938)
  • Yoruba sculptor known for his intricately carved palace doors and panels
  • "Palace Door from Ikere" (1910-1914) showcases his mastery of form and symbolism
• Benin Bronze Plaques (16th-17th centuries)
  • Commissioned by the Benin royal court to decorate the palace walls
  • Depict historical events, court life, and spiritual themes in high relief
• Kente Cloth (Asante people, Ghana)
  • Intricately woven textile featuring vibrant colors and geometric patterns
  • Each design carries symbolic meaning and is associated with proverbs and social status
• Sande Society Masks (Mende people, Sierra Leone)
  • Worn by female initiates during coming-of-age ceremonies
  • Characterized by their smooth, black surface and stylized feminine features
• Nok Terracotta Figures (Nigeria, 500 BCE-200 CE)
  • Earliest known examples of large-scale terracotta sculpture in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Depict stylized human figures with elongated features and elaborate headdresses

Cultural and Social Significance

• Religious and Spiritual Practices
  • Art objects used in rituals, ceremonies, and worship
  • Masks and sculptures served as conduits for communicating with ancestors and deities
• Political and Social Hierarchy
  • Art commissioned by rulers and elites to assert power and legitimacy
  • Regalia and insignia (crowns, scepters, and staffs) symbolized authority and status
• Rites of Passage and Initiation
  • Masks and costumes used in initiation ceremonies and coming-of-age rituals
  • Body art and adornment marked transitions and social identity
• Trade and Economic Exchange
  • Art objects (textiles, jewelry, and sculptures) served as valuable trade goods
  • Artistic production stimulated local economies and fostered cultural exchange
• Expressions of Cultural Identity
  • Art forms and styles unique to specific ethnic groups and regions
  • Preservation and transmission of cultural heritage through artistic traditions

Impact on Global Art Movements

• Influence on Western Modernism
  • African art's formal qualities and expressive power inspired European avant-garde artists (Picasso, Matisse, and Brancusi)
  • Cubism and Expressionism drew from African art's abstraction and emotional intensity
• Contributions to the Harlem Renaissance
  • African American artists (Aaron Douglas and Meta Warrick Fuller) celebrated their African heritage through art
  • Incorporation of African motifs, styles, and themes in literature, music, and visual arts
• Postcolonial and Contemporary African Art
  • Artists challenging colonial narratives and asserting African cultural identity
  • Engagement with social, political, and environmental issues through various media and styles
• Representation in Museums and Galleries
  • Increased recognition and appreciation of African art in global art institutions
  • Exhibitions and collections dedicated to showcasing the diversity and richness of African artistic traditions
• Repatriation and Cultural Heritage
  • Efforts to return African art objects to their countries of origin
  • Debates surrounding the ownership, display, and interpretation of African art in Western contexts