Elaborate beadwork first appeared as a Yoruba artform in the late 19th century, when European glass seed beads were imported into Nigeria. Soon afterwards, labor-intensive bead-covered items such as bags, footwear, knife sheaths, sashes, and belts became symbols of wealth, power, and well-being for the Yoruba ruling class. As high-ranking Yoruba bestowed beadwork items on the … [Read more...] about Beaded Belt: Researched and Conserved by Alexis Henson
As in most cultures, in African cultures, symbols of status are used to make distinctions among classes or other groups of people. The owners of status objects are recognized as powerful, wealthy, or high-ranking. In Africa, high-status individuals include people with hereditary power such as royalty; spiritual leaders; high-ranking military or civic leaders; prosperous … [Read more...] about African Status Symbols: Researched by Emily McClain and Zoë Pixler
From ancient times through today, African cultures have made beads of many different materials, including shells, seeds, bone, ivory, horn, clay, gourd, wood, rock crystal, iron, copper, brass, and gold. The widespread trade of colorful European glass seed beads, however, enabled African artisans to greatly expand traditional beadwork forms and designs, and they elevated this … [Read more...] about African Beadwork: Researched by Amanda Horned and Cortney Metzger