African History Exam 2

Visibility of craftsmanship

Ifarahon

Looking back, know your roots, to know who you are Need to gather things from your past to move on to the future. Literal translation: "it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind."

"Asante sankofa bird weight, Ghana, (19th-20th cent)"

Mende sowei, Sierra Leone/Liberia (________)

19th cent

"Asante sankofa bird weight, Ghana, (____________)"

19th-20th cent

Baule Goli, Côte d'Ivoire (________)

2000

Yoruba ere ibeji, Nigeria (__________)

20th cent

Senufo kponungo, Côte d'Ivoire (________.)

20th century

the acquisition or gradual gathering of something

Accumulation

perceptions of beauty, or what is admirable

Aesthetics

Weighing gold (currency). Representing the evolution from geometric to more elaborate design. 1 - 2 inches, Made of Brass.

Akan Goldweights

supposedly having the power to avert evil influences or bad luck

Apotropaic

______________ emerged in western Africa around 1500 BC. They are feared in some societies for their skill in metalworking, which is considered a form of magic, but universally revered by for their technological pioneering. While common people fear the power of the____________, they are highly admired and hold high social status. Because the trade is so specialized and dangerous, blacksmiths are often requisitioned by towns and villages where there are none (Ross). Other ironworking societies such as the Mande people of Mali and the Bamana exist in West Africa. Almost always male.

Blacksmith

a period of public revelry at a regular time each year, typically during the week before Lent in Roman Catholic countries, involving processions, music, dancing, and the use of masquerade

Carnival

Polish surface and reflection of light

Didon

A member of a hereditary caste among the peoples of western Africa whose function is to keep an oral history of the tribe or village and to entertain with stories, poems, songs, dances, etc.

Griot

The idea that each drum line and rhythm during a masquerade ceremony means something. (hidden message/secret language) * Each dancer represents a household. And with the winning, or best dance, brings honor to that household, or familial compound. Family pride.

Drum Language

The kalabari___________is associated with masquerades. The movie we watched was about this society. This initiation is not from childhood to adulthood but rather from junior to senior member of that society.

Ekine Society

In masquerade and in reference to the last movie the spirit is very feminine even while being represented by men, walks gracefully and is supposed to be very caring and giving. The competition aspect is male.

Gender Roles

Straight, upright posture; Symmetrical

Gigon

An example of a rite of passage. Transformation from childhood to adulthood. One reason for a masquerade.

Initiation

the action of admitting someone into a secret or obscure society or group, typically with a ritual

Initiation

The moderate resemblance to the subject, a balance between the extremes of portraiture and abstraction.

Jijora

Drum language, preserved by tested that performers have to go through.

Kalabari Alagba

Female water spirit - source of life

Kalabari Alagba

a carnival held in some countries on Shrove Tuesday, most famously in New Orleans. It emerged as a blend of many cultures and traditions, including Congo and Yoruba masquerade

Mardi Gras

a cultural or religious event involving the wearing of masks

Masquerade

Depicting humans at optimal age and strength

Odo

Praising someone in poetic verse. A lot of detail into who created a work of art. A praise towards there most respected arts and where their most famous works of arts are located. Helps understand what is admired and why. Self-fullfilling prophesy and helps you become and maintain this maximum fulfillment.

Oriki

The __________ was part of the culture introduced by Mande people, migrants to the region as early as 1000 AD. Two affiliated and secret associations exist in Sierra Leone, the Yassi and the Bundu. The first is nominally reserved for females, but members of the ________ are admitted to certain ceremonies.

Poro Society

a men's secret society in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and the Ivory Coast that serves as a kind of native governing body, making laws, deciding on war and peace, etc,

Poro society

Yoroba divination bowl, Nigeria (late 1800s)

Recognizable as human Shiny, smooth, "Dedo" Optimum age/strength "Odo"

a ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone's life, especially birth, puberty, marriage, and death

Rite of passage

Women's secret society in Liberia

Sande Society

a women's secret society in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast that initiates girls into adulthood by rituals including female genital mutilation.

Sande society

13th cent.

Sundiata Keïta

Was the founder of the Mali Empire. Prior to this, Sundiata was the king / chief of a small, obscure Mandinka tribe within the Ghana Empire. Much of what we know about __________'s life is derived from oral tradition, in particular one that is known as the Epic of ____________.

Sundiata Keïta

"Coolness" or composure. Self control.

Tutu

o Rites of passage: initiation, funerals o Spiritual/religious o Judicial/political o Artistic/entertainment o Cultural pride (which compliments the artistic/entertainment) o Gender roles (these expressions are reinforced)

Uses of Masquerades

____________ Specifically means "connection between people or things". So this is the connection between verbal and visuals.

Verbal-visual Nexus

According to the summary of his work in Frank Willet's introduction to African art, Thompson asked two hundred Yoruba to provide critiques of a set of sculpture and discovered nineteen criteria, "the most frequent being jijora, the moderate resemblance to the subject, a balance between the extremes of portraiture and abstraction".

Yoruba Aesthetics

praise poetry, how one's inner character us expressed, a way art critics express what they like about yoruba art

Yoruba oriki

Olowe of Ise, pair of doors (__________)

c. 1910

Bamileke elephant mask, Cameroon (___________)

c. 1910-1930

Areogun, door (______________)

early 20th cent

Yoruba divination bowl, Nigeria (_________)

late 1800s