Leadership and Art in the Ashanti, Kuba, Yoruba, and Other Peoples of Africa

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Leadership and Art in the Ashanti, Kuba, Yoruba,
and Other Peoples of Africa
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The Ashanti

• From Ghana in West Africa
• Important position in their government is that of
  the spokesperson to the ruler
• Spokespersons staff (okyeame poma)
• Kojo Bonsu from Ghana
• Wood and Gold
• - Height 111/4 (28.57 cm)

http//www.contracosta.cc.ca.us/Art/AfricanArtMode
rnEra.htm
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• The Ashanti are also known for their woven
  textiles, or kente
• Worked on small horizontal looms (produce narrow
  pieces of cloth)
• Used brightly colored, complex patterns
• Threads used traditionally were silk
• Longs strips made with loom are cut down and sewn
  together to form the finished kente cloth
• Kente at first was only for the state regalia
• Oyokoman ogya da mu
• (there is a fire between two
• Factions of the Oyoko clan)
• -traditionally only the king of
• the Ashanti could wear this
• pattern
• -other complex patterns were
• reserved for royal family or
• members of the court

http//www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/kente/when3.htm
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The Kuba

• From the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Produced elaborate and sophisticated political
  art
• Kuba kings were memorialized by portrait
  sculptures called ndop
• 22 known ndop span 400 years of Kuba history
• Sculptors give the ndop and icon by which to
  identify the king, called an ibol
• Ndop figures also contain carved representations
  of royal regalia

http//www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/CIA_Maps/
Zaire_19891.gif
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Ndop of Shyaam a-Mbul a-Ngwoong From Democratic
Republic of Congo Wood, height 21 3/8
http//www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/aprt_3/hd_aprt_3.
htm
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The Yoruba

• From Southwestern Nigeria
• Holy city of Ife
• 11th century- lively metropolis, artistic, and
  cultural center
• Excavations from ritual spaces
• Terra-cotta ritual vessel

Shango Ritual Vessel (Shango odu) Terracotta Ita
Yemoo Museum of Youruba Pottery, Ile Ife,
Nigeria.
http//www.ceramicstoday.com/articles/synchronicit
y_images.htm
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Naturalistic Works of Sculpture
-Created by artists of Ife -Began around 1050 CE
Head of a King, Ife, 13th century CE Zinc brass,
height 11 7/16
http//sorrel.humboldt.edu/7Erwj1/AFR/afr883s.htm
l
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Shrine Head, 12th-14th century, Ife
Terra-cotta, height 12 ¼
-idealized
http//www.artsmia.org/ceramics/shrine_head/look.h
tml
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Olowe of Ise
-Kings of the Yoruba manifested their power
through large, intricate palaces -Descriptive
figure carving covered the doors Olowe of Ise-
one of the best architectural sculptors of modern
times Palace door. Life of Ruler with
female sacrifice.
1900-1938
wood
http//worldart.sjsu.edu/Obj1252427
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Colonial Official. Detail of Door of Palace at
Ikere Olowe of Ise (1875-1938)
http//worldart.sjsu.edu/Obj441072427
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Bibliography

• 1.http//www.artsmia.org/ceramics/shrine_head/look
  .html
• 2.http//worldart.sjsu.edu/4DACTION/HANDLECGI/CTN1
  ?theKWOLOWERefineSearchNewSelection
• 3. http//www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/kente/when3.ht
  m
• Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History. Pearson
  Education. NJ. 2005
• http//www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/olowe/olowe.htm
• 6. http//sorrel.humboldt.edu/7Erwj1/AFR/afr883s.
  html