African Culture National Museum of African Art African

African Culture National Museum of African Art

African Art can consist of many themes. These themes both include visual and intellectual. A piece of art can have so many different meanings and reasons behind it. It can be conversational, spiritual, human presence, power and politics, memory/family, nature, and even music and urban culture.

Conversations Henry Ossawa Tanner, another African artist traveled to Cairo, Egypt, as part of his artistic education, making him the first professional African American artist to visit the African continent. The sensitive portrayal of a Cairo man reveals Tanner’s interest in the faces and costumes of the people he encountered during his travels to North Africa and the Middle East. With that being said, his artwork represents one of his trips to Cairo, Egypt and what he saw there or the faces and costumes he saw. He interprets his conversations/visits through his artwork. Henry Ossawa Tanner 1859– 1937, United States Study of an Arab 1897 Oil on board 33 x 24 cm (13 x 9 1/2 in. ) Collection of Camille O. and William H. Cosby Jr. Photograph by Frank Stewart

Spiritualities This kind of art shows diverse ways for an artist to express his spirituality, or religion. It can address a current societal issue or a moral life. “The Thankful Poor” picture painted by Henry Ossawa Tanner This piece portrays a black religious practice in the most human terms. It portrays intergenerational relationship between an older black man and a boy, and it represents the importance of a family relationship and the preservation of two black Christians. Henry Ossawa Tanner 1859– 1937, United States The Thankful Poor 1894 Oil on canvas 90. 3 x 112. 5 cm (35 1/2 x 44 1/4 in. ) Collection of Camille O. and William H. Cosby Jr. Photograph by Frank Stewart

Human Presence This can be similar to conversational artwork, because they both have artwork dealing with faces, but human presence has a different idea. Human presence artwork is meant to reflect and shape human identities. Baule’s piece of art shows a display relating to gender, status, and potential. This artwork, is showing this woman with protruding breasts and her stomach may notion her as being pregnant. She is also holding her stomach with her hands which could portray the nurturing/ protecting instinct role of women in society. Baule artist, Côte d’Ivoire Female figure Early to mid-20 th century Wood, glass beads, gold-alloy beads, plant fiber, white pigment, encrustation 48. 9 x 12. 1 x 14. 3 cm (19 1/4 x 4 3/4 x 5 5/8 in. ) National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, museum purchase, 85 -15 -2 Photograph by Franko Khoury

Power & Politics Notions featuring guts and glory, poses and gestures, and just in general, collective strength. These kinds of African Art explores social power and political suggestions. The artwork on the right shows a guy posing to fight yet he’s standing on a platform where it shows a slave boat. The artist, Donkor created this portraying his own life. He was a fighter in the ring, but had to also fight discrimination, social inequalities, and slavery. The halo also portrays the victory he had won when he overcame those battles. Godfried Donkor born 1964, Ghana From Slave to Champ I 1992 Mixed media on paper 62. 7 x 47. 5 cm (24 11/16 x 18 11/16 in. ) National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, 96 -21 -2 Photograph by Franko Khoury

Memory & Family This kind of theme is where artists can really be there authentic selves. They can express their past lives, or even emotions. Many other artworks can be made by steel, glass, and even fabric. The memory and family theme has many artworks in quilts. Quilts can be made by a piece of fabric from when or where they got it portraying maybe a particular person, or can be sewn with patterns or letters, or even sewn images on it to portray a family or a memory. Crossroads Quilters Port Gibson, Mississippi The Ennis Quilt 1997 Collected scrap fabric, Ennis Cosby’s clothing 370. 8 x 294. 8 cm (146 x 116 in. ) Collection of Camille O. and William H. Cosby Jr. Photograph by Jerry Thompson “Quilts tell a story of life, of memory, of family relationships. ” –Bill Cosby

Nature can be handcrafted by pieces of volcanic rock, for example. Some African artists used the materials available to them to make artwork such as volcanic rock, wool, and etc. The nature theme for artwork include many paintings to portray hunting season, or some artists use nature as a metaphor. In this piece of art, the artist is portraying herself in her art painting what she would see if she was “home. ” Christine Dixie born 1966, South Africa Unravel 2001 Linocut and etching on paper 154. 5 x 94. 3 cm (60 13/16 x 37 1/8 in. ) National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased with funds provided by the Annie Laurie Aitken Endowment, 2011 -64 Photograph by Franko Khoury

Music & Culture This theme is really big in African Art. It serves as inspiration in African American works of art. Transcending race, nationality, and culturally specific narratives use music as a universal language and consider the human relationships that form around with an urban setting. Jacob Lawrence 1917– 2000, United States Street Scene, Harlem 1942 Gouache on board 55. 3 x 75. 5 cm (21 3/4 x 29 3/4 in. ) Collection of Camille O. and William H. Cosby Jr. Photograph by Frank Stewart, © 2014 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation, Seattle/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Adebisi Fabunmi born 1945, Ghana Benin City 1970 Linocut 56. 6 x 69. 4 cm (22 5/16 x 27 5/16 in. ) National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, gift of the Wil and Irene Petty Collection, 2008 -5 -19; conservation funded by grants from the Smithsonian Women’s Committee Photograph by Franko Khoury Rhythms and structures of urban life are portrayed in black -and-white, prints by Oluwole Olayemi and Adebisi Fabunmi, who form part of Nigeria’s Oshogbo movement, which began in the early 1960 s and is ongoing. —Christine Mullen Kreamer

African Music and Where It Came From Bells, drums, guitars, strung bows, trumpets, and xylophones are just some of the many instruments played by people in Africa. The music of Africa is a part of all aspects of life. All forms of instruments, such as string, wind, and percussion, originated in Africa.

Many African songs are work chants that are sung while the seeds are being planted or the crops are being harvested. The smallest children are taught to sing and dance. They may be taught to play music and even build their own instruments. The radio of Africa is known for both traditional roots as well as modern instruments playing western classical, jazz, rock and reggae.

African Cuisine Central African Great Lakes Horn of Africa North Africa Southern Africa West Africa

Central Africa Limited outside culinary influences. Mostly traditional. Basic ingredients are plantains & cassava & peanuts Stews & porridges are very common Comm on proteins are beef, chicken, crocodile, monkey, antelope & warthog Fufu with peanut stew

African Great Lakes Cattle, sheep & goats are currency and are not generally eaten. Variety of grains & vegetables, mainly Maize Persian and Indian influences as well as Portuguese and some Asian Ugali with vegetables

Horn of Africa Common foods are tsebhis, injera Dinners are large shared plates of injera and stew One dish is commonly shared with a group of people No pork or alcohol is consumed Injera & stew

North Africa Roots of cuisine can be traced back to Egypt Lamb and beef are main proteins Couscous Bread is staple ranging from baguettes to flatbreads to pan fried breads Couscous

Southern Africa Rainbow cuisine with European & Asian influences Cows are very important so milk and meat is prized Beef, lamb & ostrich Fruit varieties including mangoes, apricots, bananas, avocado & peaches Beer Lamb & apricot kabobs

West Africa Heavy starches including fufu, rice & kenkey Fish, chicken and goat meat are common proteins Beans and root vegetables are often used Some arab influences Palm wine

African Religion is a fundamental, perhaps the most important, influence in the life of most Africans Africa is home to many different religious traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism. However, the majority of Africans from across the continent identify themselves with one (or more) of three religious traditions: indigenous African religions, Islam, and Christianity. Religion is an important part of millions of people's lives across the world. Thousands of African people are converted to Christianity every day

Christianity is embraced by the majority of the population in most Southern African, Southeast African, and Central African states and others in some parts of Northeast and West Africa. Christianity is now one of the two most widely practiced religions in Africa. There has been tremendous growth in the number of Christians in Africa

African Beliefs Half or more of the population believes that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm. In addition, roughly a quarter or more of the population in 11 countries say they believe in the protective power of juju (charms or amulets), shrines and other sacred objects.

African Representation of Feminism in Art In multiple pieces and parts of exploring the African Art culture and representations it portrays, one repeated theme came into place, feminism. Throughout several pieces shown, was the idea of women and their highly respected role in society and in the home. Women were upheld to a standard that other cultures don’t seem to emphasize as much.

Representation Multiple representations are shown throughout different pieces of art. - strong, hard working - highly respected - modest - maternal Their role in society and in the home is highly looked upon and respected since they have to do so much. Many art pieces represent these women to be beautiful but highly capable of many different things which is why they are sought to be so respected.