Art of Africa and African-American Artists

1. African Art
Music, Art, Performance and Culture
Ballenger 2010

2. 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.?

5. 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.

6. Yoruba (yor-ruh-BAH)
• A group of West African people living chiefly in
southwest Nigeria.

7. 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.

8. 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

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

10. 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.

11. Akuaba
• Prefer girls
• Round Face
• Long flat foreheads
• Ideal
• What are some cultural
ideals in American
culture?

12. 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

13. 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

14. Jewelry
• Adult women wear
elaborate silver jewelry.
• Worn for weddings
• Security for women
• What do other cultures
use as symbolism for
marriage.

15. Necklaces

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

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

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. Role of Men and Women
• Warriors and leaders • Healer as leader

22. Cycles: African Life Through Art
• http://www.imamuseu
m.org/interactives/cycle
s/
• The information
contained in this power
point come from the
website listed here and
from Chapter 12 in your
Art in Focus textbook.

23. Art of Africa and African-
American Artists
Ballenger
2015

24. Edward Mitchell Bannister
• 1828-1901
• Providence, RI
• Story in a New York
paper
• 1st to win a major award

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

26. Edmonia Lewis
• 1845-1890
• Greenhigh, Ohio
• Half Native American &
Half African American