6.4 Unit 6 Required Works

Conical Tower and Circular Wall of Great Zimbabwe

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

Form: 

• Coursed granite blocks

Function:

• This was a royal complex (the royal elite may have lived here) and trading center

Content: 

• This was a 32 feet tall fortress with sloped sides

Context: 

• The large size of the conical tower is a symbol of wealth and power. It also resembled a granary (a building that was used to store grain) to represent prosperity and a successful harvest
• The name Zimbabwe means "houses of stones," and this structure is different from many other architectural buildings in Africa because it's made from stone.

Great Mosque of Djenné

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy

Form:

• Adobe

Function: 

• This was a mosque where Muslims could come to pray and worship

Content: 

• Maintains the tradition of Islamic mosques, with a mihrab that indicates the direction of Mecca
• Wooden beams called torons are found on the mosque walls and are used as ladders for when maintenance is done on the building
• Minarets (used to call Muslim worshippers to pray) and other columns are topped with ostrich eggs as a symbol of purity and fertility
• The mosque also has a hypostyle hall, which is an interior space with a roof supported by columns. This hypostyle hall provided space for the umma (Muslim community) to pray

Context: 

• One of the five pillars of Islam requires Muslims to pray 5 times a day facing Mecca
• This structure is made from natural materials, the mosque requires maintenance it order to combat the weather and other events. The Town of Djenné holds an annual festival known as Crépissage de La Grand Mosque, where citizens come together to repair and re-plaster the Great Mosque.

Wall Plaque, from Oba’s Palace

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy

Form: 

• Cast brass

Function: 

• The plaque was made to decorate the palace of the oba (the king) and showcase his power and wealth

Content: 

• Hierarchy of scale is used, where the most important figure, the king is the largest
• The king is shown with his attendants

Context: 

• This place comes from the Edo peoples in Benin (present-day Nigeria)
• The use of brass demonstrates the trading networks that were formed, especially with the Portuguese

Sika Dwa Kofi (Golden Stool)

Image Courtesy of Smart History

Form: 

• Gold over wood

Function: 

• This was a sacred symbol of the Ashanti people in Ghana. It is said to contain the soul of the nation.
• This object was used during special occasions, like "crowning ceremonies," where the king is raised over the stool

Content: 

• There are bells hanging from the side of the stool to warn the king of danger

Context: 

• Stools are culturally significant to the Ashanti nation (parts of own's souls are believed to reside in stool), and this stool was so sacred, it was never supposed to touch the ground. It rests on its own throne.
• No one is allowed to touch the stool except for the king

Ndop (Portrait Figure) of King Mishe miShyaang maMbul

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy

Form: 

• Wood

Function: 

• These figures were meant to commemorate the king and their accomplishments

Content: 

• This is a non-idealized sculpture of the king who is wearing royal regalia and is sitting with his legs crossed on a stool
• The large head demonstrates the king's intelligence
• The calm-looking face shows the king's patience and he seems uninvolved. He is above "mortal" affairs

Context: 

• This figure was kept in a shrine
• The shine in this wooden sculpture comes from the oils that were rubbed on it to protect it from insects
• The motifs on the drum identifies this figure as King Mishe miShyaang maMbul

Power Figure (Nkisi n’kondi )

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy

Form: 

• Wood and metal

Function: 

• This was used to hold spirits

Content: 

• This is a human figure who is standing and is an alert pose
• Nails are pounded throughout the sculpture

Context: 

• The Nkisi (''spirit") contained in the figure can be called upon to assist in human affairs
• The nails were inserted to call upon the spirit, especially for serious affairs

Female (Pwo) Mask

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy

Form: 

• Wood, fiber, pigment, and metal

Function: 

• These masks were worn by men who depicted women in ritual dances

Content: 

• Closed eyes with enlarged sockets and a slender nose
• Braided fibers are used for hair

Context: 

• The Chokwe peoples were a matrilineal society and these masks were used to honor female ancestors
• The facial features represent an ideal woman in Chokwe society - The eyes suggest wisdom and modesty (she is so knowledgeable that she does not need sight)- The large forehead is also a symbol of intelligence- The white around the eyes is meant to demonstrate a connection to the spirtual world

Portrait Mask (Mblo)

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy

Form: 

• Wood and pigment

Function: 

• These masks were worn at ritual dances to honor an individual

Content: 

• Facial features include: arched eyebrows, broad forehead, heavy-lidded and downcast eyes, slender and elongated nose, small mouth, elaborate coiffure (hairstyle), elongated facial structure

Context:

• These masks are from the Baule peoples of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• This is an idealized version of the individual, and the facial features represent desired attributes in Baule society, including modesty, wisdom, and morality

Bundu Mask

Image Courtesy of Marsha K. Russell

Form; 

• Wood, cloth, and fiber

Function: 

• These masks were worn by the elders of Sande society during initiation ceremonies that brought young girls into Sande society and celebrated their adulthood

Content: 

• Facial features include: small eyes, small ears, small mouth, smooth and broad forehead, elaborate hairstyle, rings around the neck

Context: 

• The masks portray the ideal Mende woman. - Small eyes and ears represent a woman who avoids sharing secrets and gossip- The elaborate hair is a symbol of wealth- The large and high forehead demonstrates wisdom- The rings around the neck are symbolic of pregnancy

Ikenga (Shrine Figure)

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

Form: 

• Wood

Function: 

• These figures were commissioned by men for their private homes as a symbol of of their achievements

Content: 

• Ikenga means "strong right arm" and the tool in the figures hand demonstrates the person's strong physical capabilities
• The horns of a ram demonstrate power and strength

Context: 

• This figure honors masculine attributes

Lukasa (Memory Board)

Image Courtesy of Brooklyn Museum

Form: 

• Wood, beads, and metal

Function: 

• This was used to help the user remember key elements of a story

Content: 

• Carved wood decorated with beads and shells with each bead representing a particular element in the story
• Zoomorphic elements are carved into the sides of the board

Context: 

• These were used by the historians in Mbudye society, who have the special ability to read these boards
• Each board was unique depending on the story

Aka Elephant Mask

Image Courtesy of Brooklyn Museum

Form: 

• Wood, woven raffia, cloth, and beads

Function: 

• These masks were worn by members of high society (members of the Kuosi) during important ceremonies

Content: 

• The figure is a composite human-animal figure (anthropomorphic)- It has a human face with elephant features (long trunk and ears) that symbolize power and strength

Context: 

• Beads were valuable items of the Bamileke people. The beadwork and elephant features were signs of wealth and prestige

Reliquary Figure (Byeri)

Image Courtesy of Brooklyn Museum

Form: 

• Wood

Function: 

• These figures were placed on reliquaries (containers that store relics) to act as guards from bad spirits

Content: 

• Hands folded in prayer to symbolize tranquility
• Prominent belly button to symbolize eternal life and youthfulness
• Elongated body

Context: 

• Similar to the Ndop portrait figure, this sculpture was also rubber with oil to add shine and protect from insects
• This figure was meant to be portable since the Fang people were nomadic

Veranda Post of Enthroned King and Senior Wife (Opo Ogoga)

Image Courtesy of Google Arts and Culture

Form: 

• Wood and pigment

Function: 

• This was most likely used for decoration of the king's palace. These posts also helped support a veranda (porch-like structure) in the palace

Content: 

• The Senior Wife stands behind the king and crowns him. 
• The use of hierarchy of scale were she is larger than the king, shows that she is an important supporter of the king (cross cultural comparison with King Menkaura and Queen in Unit 2 🧠)
• There is a smaller figure, the King's Junior Wife and a Eshu, the Trickster god of the Yoruba peoples playing the flute

Context: 

• The carver of this piece was Olowe of Ise