african culture from the great zimbabwe to 15 th century kilwa to medieval timbuktu
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AFRICAN CULTURE From the Great Zimbabwe to 15 th century Kilwa to medieval Timbuktu e vidence shows that Africans were a proud, productive, creative people!. The Great Zimbabwe – 11 TH c. trade center. KILWA today part of Tanzania. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
AFRICAN CULTURE
From the Great Zimbabwe to 15th century Kilwato medieval Timbuktu evidence shows that Africans werea proud, productive, creative people!
The Great Zimbabwe – 11TH c. trade center
KILWA today part of Tanzania
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.
Djinguereber Mosque Timbuktu, Mali – 15th century
“We shall one day correct our Greek and Latin classics by the manuscripts preserved there……” 15th century observer
Sankore Mosque, Mali
AFRICAN ARTWhat 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 uncontrollableHuman: 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
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!
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!
ACACIAWOOD
RaffiaFrom the Raphia Palm
Nok terracotta and ivory sculpturesNigeria, 1000 BC – 500 AD
Kuba tribe – Democratic Republic of Congo12”
Benin Bronze holes used to add raffia, hair
Ashanti bird mask – kept in homes to ward off evil spirits
Ashanti chief mask
Cowrie Shells (snails)
Modigliani’s style compared to African masks
Ashanti gold mask – British Museum, London
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