AFRICAN CULTURE From the Great Zimbabwe to 15 th century Kilwa to medieval Timbuktu

1. AFRICAN CULTURE From the Great Zimbabwe to 15th century Kilwa to medieval Timbuktu evidence shows that Africans were a proud, productive, creative people!

2. The Great Zimbabwe – 11TH c. trade center

3. KILWA today part of Tanzania

4. 16th Century "The city comes down to the shore, and is entirely surrounded by a wall and towers, within which there are maybe 12,000 inhabitants. The country all round is very luxurious with many trees and gardens of all sorts of vegetables, citrons, lemons, and the best sweet oranges that were ever seen… The streets of the city are very narrow, as the houses are very high, of three and four stories, and one can run along the tops of them upon the terraces… and in the port there were many ships. A moor ruled over this city, who did not possess more country than the city itself."Gaspar Correa describing Vasco da Gama's arrival in Kilwa.

5. “We shall one day correct our Greek and Latin classics by the manuscripts preserved there……” 15th century observer Djinguereber Mosque Timbuktu, Mali – 15th century

6. Sankore Mosque, Mali

7. AFRICAN ART What influenced it most? The environment Environment is reflected in art and religion It is a blend of NATURAL & HUMAN worlds: Nature: forces are wild and uncontrollable Human: is predictable and orderly guided by laws and customs Art, music, and dance very important to religion. Religion: animism – the belief that everything in nature has a soul and all things meddle in human affairs for good and/or bad. Polytheistic

8. Traditional religion: animism – the belief that everything in nature has a soul and all things meddle in human affairs for good and/or bad. Polytheistic – many gods Ancestors are the “go-betweens” between people and the gods. Masks are a vehicle to communicate with the gods!

9. CHARACTERISTICS OF AFRICAN ART • Animals are very important • Pieces are more ABSTRACT than realistic • GEOMETRIC forms are used: eyes, nose, etc. • Materials used: raffia, leaves, ivory, bark, gold, skins, wood • Art was used for everyday life activities & religion • EXAGGERATED body parts believed to have special powers: • Eyes were the window to the soul • Head was the seat of the soul • Very large eyes, elongated or stretched heads!

10. ACACIA WOOD Raffia From the Raphia Palm

11. Nok terracotta and ivory sculptures Nigeria, 1000 BC – 500 AD

12. Kuba tribe – Democratic Republic of Congo 12”

13. Benin Bronze holes used to add raffia, hair

14. Ashanti bird mask – kept in homes to ward off evil spirits

15. Ashanti chief mask Cowrie Shells (snails)

16. Modigliani’s style compared to African masks

17. Ashanti gold mask – British Museum, London

18. Assignment: Create a sculpture or clay figure of a contemporary (modern) object • Requirements: • It must reflect (show) the characteristics of Africa art • On a piece of paper list the following: • Create a title for it • Identify and describe the characteristic that you illustrated in your piece • Tell what your object actually is • This paper MUST be written neatly!!! • Example: • ID and describe: a hair brush: the bristles are the most powerful or important part so they are huge and exaggerated. • Title: Woman’s True Best Friend • This is a test grade. Due at end of class Wednesday, 04/03