Term
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Definition
Ethnic Group – Dogon, Mali
Represents – Woman –
baby on her back , pestle – provider of food,
stylized image – not realistic image of a woman
She has a beard – sign of stature |
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Definition
3-5 Yourba, Nigeria
Indigenous Twins,
Deceased Twin
Twins were sacred in Yoruba society
One of them is a spirit, the other is not, so they treat them both with high standing
Takes care of the figure as if it was a twin
• Don’t have to be in twos, one twin can die and have one corresponding figure
• 5th is irie ibeji
o plastic dolls instead of modern figures
o modernity vs tradition
♣ modernity doesn’t get rid of, but adapts to the tradition
♣ Americans see this as dolls when they are truly African art |
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Term
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Definition
Mende, Sierra Leone
Sande
Only society where woman wear masks
Idealized element of female beauty
Elaborated hair
Downcast eyes
Mouth and ears are small, you don’t reveal secrets
Rings on the neck = well fed
Black color is considered beautiful
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Term
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Definition
Mende, Sierra Leone
Gonde
• Represents the opposite of the Sonde Masks
o Big ears, large mouth
o No hair,
o Clumsy instead of the graceful sande mask |
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Term
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Definition
Bambara,
Chiwra
Stylized
Represents chiwra – who gave them the land to farm
Female = straight antler Male = curved
Not a mask or sculpture
Comes out during the farming season for good luck
Styles – vertical, horizontal and abstract |
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Term
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Definition
Baule, Cote D’Ivorie
Bolo bla
• Spiritual spouse
Your problems in this world is because of your spouse in the other world
• You must create bolo bla so that your spiritual spouse stops being jealous
Scarification Marks
• Mark of status
Elongates torso
• Stylized and idealized
Sometimes explained with western clothing
• Relationship between spirituality and modernity
o Having a spirit spouse idenfified in modern clothing
o Want your spiritual spouse to have a sense of style
♣ Symbolized urban modernity |
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Term
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Definition
Dacota, Gabon
Reliquary Figure
Meant to guard the bones of the ancestors
On top of the basket where the bones are
• Scary looking to scare off people from the bones
Made of copper and breass – hard to obtain
Not round and three dimensional – back side is unfinished |
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Term
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Definition
Fang, Gabon
Sat ontop of a box that contained ancestors
Symbol of balance and vitality – seems in alabce and controlled – but could pounce at any time
Muscular and strong due to its duty to protect the bones of the ancestors
Offerings of palm oil made it shiny by it leaking in and out of the wood |
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Term
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Definition
Fang, Gabon
Sat ontop of a box that contained ancestors
Symbol of balance and vitality – seems in alabce and controlled – but could pounce at any time
Muscular and strong due to its duty to protect the bones of the ancestors
Offerings of palm oil made it shiny by it leaking in and out of the wood |
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Term
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Definition
Efe Head, Nigeria
Naturalism of the human face - someone of great power
Elaborate headdress – crown
Scarified face and holes around his mouth
12-13th century – oldest example of African art |
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Term
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Definition
Efe Head, Nigeria
Naturalism of the human face - someone of great power
Elaborate headdress – crown
Scarified face and holes around his mouth
12-13th century – oldest example of African art |
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Term
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Definition
Benin Plaque,BEnin City, Nigeria
Palace of the Oba
Central figure = oba
King centralized with two attendants
Plaques would have been apart of a narrative of the kings of Benin |
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Term
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Definition
Ivory Mask of the Queen Mother, Benin v
Hip ornament – symbol of power
Worn on somebody’s head
Top of the head has Portuguese soldiers in contrast with the mud fish
• Associating the Portuguese with things that come out of the sea |
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Term
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Definition
Asantehene sitting in State
• Art that reveals rather than conceal
o In kingship – art draws attention to the leader
• Wearing kente cloth
• Gold jewelry
• Attenants security
• Umbrellas frame him
• Sitting next to the golden stool
o Ultimate symbpl of the asante nation
♣ Cannot touch the gound
♣ Between the earth and heaven |
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