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