Art of Africa the Continent of Africa Is Approximately the Size of the United States, China and All of Europe Combined

Art of Africa The continent of Africa is approximately the size of the United States, China and all of Europe combined . . . . or about four times the size of the United States Africa contains over 40 countries and an estimated 2,000 different cultural or linguistic groups Traditional African Art

• The concepts of ‘art’ and ‘artist’ in Africa • Here are some examples – Not pictured, but also jewelry/ adornment, weavings, etc. • Today, we will focus on masks Traditional African mask-making is dictated by the social and religious beliefs of the community and influenced by the individual vision of the carver.

Each mask’s different details will reflect the various purposes for which the mask was made.

Masks from the collections of the Smithsonian Museum of African Art Ceremonial Mask Types

Helmet Mask Face Mask Headdress The People of Dogon, Mali

The Bandiagara Cliffs, in the West African country of Mali, are the home of the Dogon people. Approximately 300,000 Dogon people live in 700 small villages in a 125 mile stretch of land along the Bandiagara Cliffs. The Dogon have successfully preserved their culture from outside forces for centuries. Dogon Ritual & Ceremony

Ritual is an integral part of Dogon culture.

Cultural rites and ceremonial themes reflect awareness of the necessary harmony between the human spirit, the land and animal life.

Let’s take a look at two

Dogon ceremonies… Masked Dancer, Dogon Country, Mali lonely planet images The Fox Divination ceremony is undertaken to foresee the future of the Dogon tribesmen and Dogon villages. This divination ceremony of Mali is performed by the ‘diviner’ or Dogon priest. The Dogon are highly artistic; creating elaborate carved wooden masks for their lively dance- dramas.

Dogon masks rank among the most respected within the world of tribal art collections and have influenced such Western 20th-century artists as Picasso and Braque, even the Cubist movement. Video: Dogon Mask Ceremony Activity: Name That Mask

You are a team of talented scientists who have been asked to give your expert opinion on the meaning and use of the mask before you. Here’s what you know:

• The mask was hand carved in Ghana • Ghana is a country located in West Africa • The mask is most likely carved from sese wood (an African tree)

Examine the mask closely and look for signs of what the mask may represent or for what purpose it might be used. Look carefully at the markings, size and shape of the features, the colors used, and the adornments (decorations) for clues as to the meaning of the mask.