African art is incredibly diverse, reflecting the continent's numerous cultures and regions. While significant regional and cultural variations exist, unifying themes, recurring motifs, and consistent artistic elements are present across the broad spectrum of African visual expression.
As with any artistic tradition, African art was created within specific social, political, and religious contexts. It was often created with a practical, spiritual, or didactic purpose in mind, rather than purely for aesthetic reasons.
African art includes prehistoric and ancient art, the Islamic art of West Africa, the Christian art of East Africa, and the traditional artifacts of these and other regions. However, African art does not usually encompass the artistic traditions of North Africa, which have been predominantly influenced by distinct artistic traditions, such as Punic art, Greco-Roman Art, Islamic Art, and other styles originating beyond Africa.
Ethiopian art, heavily influenced by Ethiopia's long-standing Christian tradition, differs from most African art, where Traditional African religion (with Islam prevalent in the north east and north west presently) was dominant until the 20th century.
The origins of African art lie long before recorded history. The region's oldest known beads, made from Nassarius shells and worn as personal ornaments, date back 72,000 years. Evidence for the making of paints by a complex process exists from about 100,000 years ago, and the use of pigments dates back around 320,000 years. African rock art in the Sahara in Niger preserves 6000-year-old carvings.
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Rock Art in the Sahara in Niger preserves 6000-year-old carvings.
Key Elements of African Art
Several elements define and characterize African art across its diverse forms:
- Human Figure: The human figure has long been the central subject, influencing European artistic traditions. It can symbolize the living or the dead, represent chiefs, dancers, or various trades, serve as an anthropomorphic image of a deity, or fulfill other votive and spiritual functions.
- Visual Abstraction: African artworks often prioritize visual abstraction over naturalistic representation.
- Religious Symbolism: Traditional African religions have significantly influenced African art forms, with many pieces created for spiritual rather than purely creative purposes.
- Functionalism and Utilitarianism: African art often stems from themes of religious symbolism, functionalism, and utilitarianism. The majority of popular African artworks can be understood as tools, such as representative figurines used in religious rituals and ceremonies.
Many African cultures emphasize the importance of ancestors as intermediaries between the living, the Gods, and the supreme creator. Art is seen as a way to contact these spirits of ancestors. Art may also be used to depict Gods and is valued for its functional purposes. For example, African God Ogun who is the God of iron, war, and craftsmanship.
Materials and Forms
African art is produced using a wide range of materials and takes many distinct shapes.
- Wood: Because wood is a prevalent material, wood sculptures make up the majority of African art.
- Clay Soil: Clay soil is also used in creating African art.
- Jewelry: Jewelry is a popular art form used to indicate rank, affiliation with a group, or purely aesthetics. African jewelry is made from diverse materials such as Tiger's eye stone, Hematite, Sisal, coconut shell, beads and Ebony wood.
- Sculptures: Sculptures can be wooden, ceramic, or carved out of stone like the famous Shona sculptures.
- Textiles: Various forms of textiles are made, including Kitenge, mud cloth, and Kente cloth.
- Mosaics: Mosaics made of butterfly wings or colored sand are popular in West Africa.
Sculpture is most common among "groups of settled cultivators in the areas drained by the Niger and Congo rivers" in West Africa. Direct images of deities are relatively infrequent, but masks, in particular, are often made for ritual ceremonies.
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Masks are important elements in the art of many people, along with human figures, and are often highly stylized.
Regional Styles and Traditions
Diverse styles exist within African art, often observable within a single context of origin and influenced by the intended use of the object. Nevertheless, broad regional trends are discernible.
West Africa
West African cultures developed bronze casting for reliefs, like the famous Benin Bronzes, to decorate palaces and for highly naturalistic royal heads from around the Bini town of Benin City, Edo State, as well as in terracotta or metal, from the 12th-14th centuries. Akan gold weights are a form of small metal sculptures produced from 1400 to 1900; some represent proverbs, contributing a narrative element rare in African sculpture; and royal regalia included gold sculptured elements. Many West African figures are used in religious rituals and are often coated with materials placed on them for ceremonial offerings. The Mande-speaking peoples of the same region make pieces from wood with broad, flat surfaces and arms and legs shaped like cylinders.
In Western African art there is a particular focus on expressiveness and individuality.
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Akan Art
Akan art originated among the Akan people and includes traditions such as textiles, sculpture, Akan goldweights, and gold and silver jewelry. Akan art is characterized by a connection between visual and verbal expression and a blending of art and philosophy. Akan culture values gold above other metals, and it is used to represent supernatural elements, royal authority, and cultural values. According to Asante oral tradition, their origins are linked to the arrival of a golden stool, which is believed to hold the soul of the Asante nation.
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In some Akan cultural beliefs, gold symbolized the sun and was associated with royal authority. It was often used in art to signify the king's importance, representing key cultural and social values. Kente cloth is another important art tradition of Akan culture. According to oral tradition, Kente cloth originated from attempts to replicate spider webs through weaving. Kente cloth is recognized for its colors and intricate patterns.
Ashanti trophy head; circa 1870; pure gold; Wallace Collection (London). This artwork represents an enemy chief killed in battle.
Ashanti trophy head; circa 1870; pure gold; Wallace Collection (London).
Nigerian Art
Nigerian art is inspired by the country's diverse folklore and traditional heritage. Art forms from Nigeria include stone carvings, pottery, glasswork, woodcarvings, and bronze works. Masks are part of the animist beliefs of the Yoruba people.
Pottery has a long tradition in Nigeria, with evidence of its production dating back to at least 100 B.C. Suleja, Abuja, and Ilorin are considered important centers of traditional pottery. The Yoruba use a local plant to create indigo-dyed batik cloth. Women traditionally perform the dyeing, while in the north, the craft is practiced exclusively by men. Weavers in many parts of the country produce textiles with lace-like designs.
The Pan-African Art Movement
The Pan-African Art Movement has been a powerful force in uniting African cultures and showcasing the continent’s diverse creativity. This art movement seeks to unite African cultures and promote a sense of shared identity, history, and creative expression. The Pan-African Art Movement emerged as a response to the colonial and post-colonial experiences of African people.
The Pan-African Art Movement can be traced back to the early 20th century, when African artists started responding to the oppressive forces of colonialism. During this time, the Negritude movement emerged, led by intellectuals and artists such as Aimé Césaire, Léopold Sédar Senghor, and Léon Damas. The 1960s and 1970s marked a significant period in the history of the Pan-African Art Movement. As many African countries gained independence, the movement gained momentum. This era saw the emergence of African art festivals, such as the inaugural World Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar, Senegal, in 1966, and the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1977.
From the 1980s onwards, the Pan-African Art Movement has gained global recognition and has expanded its reach. International exhibitions and collaborations have helped promote African artists and their works. Cuban artist Wifredo Lam is considered one of the pioneers of the Pan-African Art Movement. His unique artistic style, which combined elements of Cubism, Surrealism, and African artistic traditions, had a profound impact on the movement.
The Mbari Artists and Writers Club, founded in Nigeria in the 1960s, played a crucial role in the development of the Pan-African Art Movement. This collective of artists, writers, and intellectuals sought to promote African art and culture and create a platform for artistic expression. The Dakar School, established in Senegal in the 1960s, has been a significant force in the Pan-African Art Movement. This art institution nurtured and promoted the talents of African artists and contributed to the development of contemporary African art.
The Pan-African Art Movement has been successful in uniting African cultures through shared artistic themes and techniques. By showcasing the diverse cultural expressions of African artists, the movement has fostered a sense of understanding and appreciation among African people. The Pan-African Art Movement has played a crucial role in showcasing Africa’s diverse creativity to the world. By challenging stereotypes and promoting African artists in the global art scene, the movement has helped to redefine the perception of African art.
The Pan-African Art Movement has also been a source of inspiration for contemporary art movements. By encouraging cross-cultural exchanges and collaboration, the movement has influenced a new generation of artists who are exploring themes related to African culture and history.
Contemporary African Art
Africa is home to a thriving contemporary art and fine art culture. This has been under-studied until recently, due to scholars' and art collectors' emphasis on traditional art. Notable modern artists include El Anatsui, Marlene Dumas, William Kentridge, Karel Nel, Kendell Geers, Yinka Shonibare, Zerihun Yetmgeta, Odhiambo Siangla, George Lilanga, Elias Jengo, Olu Oguibe, Lubaina Himid, Bili Bidjocka and Henry Tayali.
Art bienniales are held in Dakar, Senegal, and Johannesburg, South Africa. Many contemporary African artists are represented in museum collections, and their art may sell for high prices at art auctions. Despite this, many contemporary African artists tend to have a difficult time finding a market for their work. Many contemporary African arts borrow heavily from traditional predecessors.
Since the late 20th century, artists such as Ibrahim El-Salahi and Fathi Hassan have emerged as significant early figures in the development of contemporary Black African art. However, the foundations of contemporary African artistic expression were laid earlier, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s in South Africa, where artists like Irma Stern, Cyril Fradan, and Walter Battiss played pioneering roles.
In more recent decades, the global art scene has shown growing interest in African contemporary art, largely thanks to the support of European galleries like the October Gallery in London and the involvement of prominent collectors such as Jean Pigozzi, Artur Walther, and Gianni Baiocchi. A pivotal moment for the international recognition of African art came with the appointment of Nigerian curator Okwui Enwezor as the artistic director of Documenta 11 in 2002.
A wide range of more-or-less traditional forms of art or adaptations of traditional style to contemporary taste is made for sale to tourists and others, including so-called "airport art". Several popular traditions assimilate Western influences into African styles such as the elaborate fantasy coffins of Southern Ghana, made in a variety of different shapes which represent the occupations or interests of the deceased or elevate their status.
Popular African Artistic Styles
Here are seven popular art styles that are worldwide and universal, already well-integrated in the art historical canon, but presented with a unique African twist:
- Environmental Art
- Figurative Art
- Street Art
- Pop Art
- Performance Art
- Surrealism
- Abstract Art
Though African art has evolved and disseminated to all types of artistic styles and movements, the above seven categories provide just a taste of the diversity and range of African cultural output.
Key Ideas & Accomplishments of Traditional African Art
- Amongst the best-known examples of traditional African art are the striking masks produced by many cultures across the continent: from the Zamble masks of the Guro culture (located in present-day Ivory Coast), to Yoruba, Lulua, and Goma facial adornments - created by communities in Nigeria, Congo, and Tanzania.
- Traditional African art shares marked characteristics, in spite of its geographical differences. For example, many African sculptures are united by their intended function as talismans or vessels for communicating with the dead ancestors during religious events.
- Pottery is a key form for many African artistic cultures. Jugs and vessels were often created with a utilitarian or domestic function in mind, yet also with great attention to visual beauty and detail.
- African art cannot be considered today apart from the controversies concerning its location in museums and galleries across the West.
Examples of Traditional African Art
The traditions of African art are rich in their variety of objects, materials, and media, including sculpture, pottery, metalwork, painting, and textiles.
| Artwork | Description | Culture/Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Untitled rock painting | An array of painted figures and animals, including cattle and camels. | Chad's Manda Guéli Cave |
| Queen Mother Pendant Mask: Iyoba | Ivory mask featuring the face of a woman. | Benin |
| Military Leader | Relief plaque featuring a warrior dressed in full armor. | Benin Kingdom (modern-day Nigeria) |
| Female Figure | Wooden sculpture depicting a female with an elongated neck. | Bena Lulua people (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
| Zamble Helmet Crest Mask | Mask resembling a mythical creature called the Zamble. | Guro culture of the Ivory Coast |
| Vessel | Functional piece of pottery depicting the body shape and head of a female. | Mangbetu culture (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
