Textiles are an important artform in many African cultures. While weavers in some cultures are traditionally female, as among the Basotho of southern Africa, in other cultures men traditionally do the weaving, as among the Asante of Western Coastal Africa and the Senufo of Western Africa. The weavers do use different types of looms, however; women tend to weave on upright, … [Read more...] about African Textiles: Researched by Hannah Woolridge
This small figure, made by artists of the Tikar culture of Cameroon, is a representation of a house god, an ancestral power that is believed to have been one of the first occupants of this region. The figure is short and stout because the Tikar believe that their ancestors were pygmies. Such house god sculptures are kept in the home because the figure is believed to provide … [Read more...] about Small African Figural Sculptures: Researched by Emma Schupbach
The 20th and 21st centuries have given rise to many new forms of art, and one of the most intriguing is international art. International art is made by people of indigenous cultures and that is inspired by traditional themes and styles, but uses European media and methods for making the art. Four paintings in this group, for example, are made by an artist inspired by Zulu … [Read more...] about African and African Diaspora International Art: Researched by Hannah Robinson
The Maasai and the Ndebele are African cultures living in the modern-day countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. While many continue to practice traditional ways of life, they are aware of the outside world. Today both of these cultures produce their traditional art, especially beadwork, both for their own cultural purposes as well as to sell in … [Read more...] about Maasai and Ndebele Art: Researched by Ngozi Ekeke
The kifwebe mask (plural bifwebe) is made by both the Luba and the Songye cultures of Central Africa. Interestingly, the Luba claim that this was originally a Songye mask, while the Songye claim that the Luba were the first to create the kifwebe mask. Some scholars believe that these cultures each defer to the other in order to create an allure of strangeness for the … [Read more...] about Kifwebe Mask: Researched and Reproduced by Tyler White