African Aesthetics Beauty defined Manifestations of beauty outer

African Aesthetics Beauty defined. Manifestations of beauty: outer and inner The useful, the functional, the complete, the appropriate The Head– outer and inner Houses the vital sense organs Site of personality center of spirituality Shrine, being, destiny

Group of stylized abstract heads representing, inner spiritual head--site of personality Yoruba, (Ita Yemoo, Ife) Nigeria, terracotta, h. 13 cm(5 in); 19 cm(7. 1/2 in); 16. 5 cm (61/2 in) 16 cm (6 3/8 in)

Aesthetic parameters: Clarity Ephebism-youthfulness Completeness Shining smoothness Social and emotional proportion Polyrhythmic compositions Art as metaphor

Ibeji twin memorial figure, Yoruba, Nigeria Wood, 20 th cent. (Yiyo) relative clarity, completeness, and visibility

Lajuwa, royal usurper Terra-cotta, Ife, Yoruba, 12/15 th cent. (odo) Ephebism: relative youthfulness

Ooni, Leaded brass, Appr. 18. in. Ife, Yoruba, 14/15 th cent. (Pipe) completeness & emotional proportion

Head of a Queen, Ife, (Yoruba), Nigeria Terracotta, 12 th-13 th Century 800 -700 BP (Before the Present)

Bronze Plaque, Appr. 21. in. Benin, Nigeria, 17 th cent. Aesthetics of social proportions

Sango Shrine Sculptures, Yoruba, Nigeria Wood, 20 th cent. -aesthetics of social proportion

Sowei mask, Mande, Sierra Leone Wood, 20 th cent. Aesthetics of shining smoothness

Woman wearing silver jewelry Harar, Somalia

Fulani Woman in a market, Mopti, Mali, 1970

Fulani women at a ceremony Celebrating masculine beauty and charm, Niger Republic, 1980

Balangandans, silver and gold pendants Worn by Afro-Brazilians since at least the Early 19 th century. Detail from a painting By Jean Baptiste Debret done in Brazil In the 1820 s

Kente, hand-woven fabric, Ghana, 20 th. Cent, aesthetics of polyrhythms

Adire, dyed cotton, Yoruba, SW Nigeria, 20 th cent. polyrhythmic composition

Linguist staff, Wood, gold leaf, 20 th Cent. Metaphor of leadership

Fon Flag, Applique, Democratic Republic of Benin, 20 th century

Royal Umbrella, Fon Applique, cotton, D. R. Benin, 20 th century.

Egungun masquerade, sequined applique, cotton, Yoruba Southwestern Nigeria, 20 th century.

conclusion