This exhibit includes a variety of 20th century masks from cultures in Western Coastal and Central Africa, including masks of the Ijo, Igbo, Ibibio, and Yoruba cultures from Nigeria, along with masks of the Kuba culture from Democratic Republic of Congo. Artists of these cultures carved the masks from wood and painted them to depict figures with human-like physical … [Read more...] about African Masks and Headdresses: Researched by Katie Kimbrough
The Asante are a culture living primarily in the Akan region of Western Coastal Africa, in what are now the countries of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. Although they have a matrilineal society, with the line of descent traced through women, the Asante have a monarchy style of government that is predominantly—but not exclusively--ruled by men. The Asante people use two different … [Read more...] about Asante Art: Researched by Amanda Steimel
Women of the Ovambo culture of Namibia carefully weave baskets like the Basket with Center Bowl using a traditional coil-weaving style. These baskets are traditionally used for food serving or for grain storage, but they are also made for the tourist trade, to be sold in order to help support the family. Women in different communities often weave together, but each women adds … [Read more...] about Basket with Center Bowl: Researched by Jonathan Kodner
Berber vessels are distinctive in their use of locally sourced clays that the artisans dig, process, mature, and work by hand. Although this Berber vessel takes the same form as large, traditional Moroccan tagines used for cooking, this tagine is much too small to be used for cooking or serving meals. Instead, this covered vessel was made to mimic the shape of a tagine, but it … [Read more...] about Miniature Tagine for Holding Spices: Researched by Olivia Smith
The Red and Black Triangle Pattern Basket, traditionally known as an Oops bowl, is a type of sweetgrass basketry made by the Zulu culture of southeastern Africa. Although properly woven Oops bowls may be water-tight, they are typically used for holding foods such as nuts, sweets, or potato chips. Young Zulu children are taught to make these baskets in order to carry on the … [Read more...] about Red and Black Triangle Pattern Basket (Oops Bowl): Researched by Jonathan Kodner