Asante (Akan) Kingdom

*African Art

• Their graphic decorations, symbols and figural compositions directly relate to proverbs, traditional sayings, or historical events.

• Thus, a person well versed in Asante history and proverbs, can 'read' the specific meanings represented in art objects.

• Most of the symbolic meanings of Akan art elaborate the necessity of wisdom.

• Interlace patterns: This interconnected and never-ending design refers to the continuity and balance important to life.

Detail of a man's kente cloth called Adweneasa, meaning "my skills are

exhausted."

• The Asante strip woven cloth called kente is the best known of African textiles.

• Originally kente was worn by royalty • The names and meanings of kente designs

allude to proverbs, historical events, social status, and the gender of the wearer.

• Each Asante king would create a new kente design after close consultation with master weavers during his reign.

• This new kente design had to be chosen with great care because its pattern and symbolic meaning would always be associated with this particular king.

Detail of a man's kente cloth from the Oyoko clan, the Asante kings dynasty. Colors coincide with the Ghanaian flag.

Color red in the flag signifies the blood of those who died during Ghana’s fight for independence.

Gold denotes the mineral wealth of the country

Green is the symbol for its rich natural vegetation

The black star symbolizes the lodestar that was used in the freedom struggle.

Profile of a Sande mask with a snake and bird motif on top of the hairdo.

What do these motifs mean?

Consider the following symbols and their meaning: •Birds: • at the top protect the powerful

medicines inserted in the crown's summit. symbols of the mystical powers of women

•Faces: • represent the royal ancestors who

are said to watch and protect the royal line.

•Triangles: • reflects its sacred qualities.•Elephant: • A symbol of longevity and power.

The colors of the Kente Cloth signify certain meanings: • black—maturation, intensified spiritual energy• blue—peacefulness, harmony and love• green—vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth,

spiritual renewal• gold—royalty, wealth, high status, glory, spiritual

purity• grey—healing and cleansing rituals; associated with

ash• maroon—the color of mother earth; associated with

healing• pink—assoc. with the female essence of life; a mild,

gentle aspect of red• purple—assoc. with feminine aspects of life; usually

worn by wealthy women• red—political and spiritual moods; bloodshed;

sacrificial rites and death.• silver—serenity, purity, joy; assoc. with the moon• white—purification, sanctification rites and festive

occasions• yellow—preciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility

What is the meaning of this cloth according to the colors?

"The wealth of the greedy ultimately goes to the community.“

Purple is a sign of wealth in African Textiles

What do theseColors signify?

Date:16th–20th century Geography: Mali Culture: Dogon or Bozo peoples Medium: Copper

Date:15th–20th centuryGeography: Mali, Bougouni or Dioila regionCulture: Bamana peoplesMedium: Wood, dried mud

Date:15th–20th centuryGeography: Mali, Bougouni or Dioila regionCulture: Bamana peoplesMedium: Wood

Date:18th–early 19th century Geography: Mali Culture:Dogon peoples Medium: Wood, metal

Date:19th–20th century Geography: Mali Culture: Dogon peoples Medium: Wood, pigment