Archaeological evidence from about 200,000 years ago suggests that the first modern humans lived on the African continent, before moving to other parts of the world. Due to the fact that as more recent records of human activity show, oral history is more important for African communities in comparison to written documentation, therefore making art a particularly important form of communication and cultural expression. Art created in Africa is unlike other art developed around the rest of the world as they follow traditional techniques rather than focusing on making a name for themselves learning traditional ways to make objects is more important. Art integrates and responds to the environment, incorporates significant mythological beliefs, and follows traditional methods of construction and decoration. Africa’s artistic traditions rely on natural materials such as wood, reeds, shells, and the earth. Artists in Africa are communicators for those within their community, they record events and relate important cultural beliefs or stories that explain the mysteries of the world. I will be discussing how the cultural context influences the art the African culture produces.
Cultural context is defined as follows the placement of a work of art in its context for creation and or reception. Through the various details, it provides us with the opportunity to understand what a piece of work may have meant in its original time. I believe that cultural context allows us to deepen our understanding of art created not in our time.
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The history of architecture in Africa is hard to track as so many buildings were made of perishable materials such as mud, brick and wood. Although some ceremonial structures, royal residences and places of worship have remained intact over time, others have fallen leaving a small glimpse into the past. The symbolism of the structures and ornamentation of the buildings communicate to us the significance of spiritual concerns, ties to ancestors and connections with nature. For example, the massive stone walls of Great Zimbabwe, which were built and expanded from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century in southern Africa. It is believed by modern-day Shona (the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe) that the site may have been formerly used by elite inhabitants. Of what remains of altars, monoliths (a monument or sculpture made from a single piece of stone), and soapstone sculptures that are found at the Great Zimbabwe suggests that it served as both a political and religious centre for the Shona state. Whilst in its prime from approximately 1350 to 1450 this site was a very important cattle farm and trade centre. Exporting goods such as gold, copper, and ivory to the Indian Ocean region and goods such as cloth, glass beads, and ceramics were imported from India, China and Islamic countries. It is estimated that a minimum of 10,000 people lived in the city’s surrounding area, with several hundred elites residing inside the walls of the Great Zimbabwe. It is estimated by 1500, Great Zimbabwe’s political and economic influence dwindled out. Speculations have been made as to why this occurred; the frequency of droughts and how fragile the environment was, although other theories emphasize that Great Zimbabwe may have experienced political issues over political succession that interrupted trade. Without Great Zimbabwe, the Shona would not have been able to trade and without being able to trade they would not have been able to sustain their lives. I believe it is crucial to make note of the fact that sculptures are often integrated into buildings as decoration and to devote the space with symbolic meaning. Within the Great Zimbabwe, eight carved pieces of soapstone were found on top of columns. The images of the creature combine the features of a human-like bird and a crocodile. The bird’s beak has been replaced with human lips, and its claws portray more feet-like. This figure suggests that it has supernatural significance. The Shona believe that the spirits of royal ancestors visit our living world through birds. These sculptures reflect some of the core beliefs in many African cultures. The symbolic use of emblems of royal authority, reminders of family relationships and expectations of spiritual reward in the afterlife. We may look at the Great Zimbabwe and appreciate it as a structure, but through cultural context, we can develop a deeper appreciation of what this place truly means to not only the Shona but the people of Africa.
In Africa traditionally information is communicated visually rather than verbally, objects are often made with a specific purpose or with a specific person in mind. Artwork that contains abstract designs or patterns can send information that is equally as important, recognizable and specific as representational images. Within our society often we use masks as disguises, protection, or even for performance, for African groups the mask is most meaningful when being performed. Often masks are created for a particular event and discarded afterwards as they no longer seen as ‘alive’. In other cases, masks are maintained from year to year and passed down generation to generation by their performers. The Dogon of Mali in West Africa traditionally used the Kanaga mask in ceremonies that were designed to assist the deceased in their journey into the spiritual realm. According to one interpretation, the two crossbars on the mask represent the lower earthly realm and the upper is the cosmic realm of the sky. In the performance, dancers touch the mask to the ground to scare away any souls that may be lingering in the village. The uses of masks we use in our culture versus in Africa are significantly different, they hold more significance and through cultural context were able to see just how significant they are and the importance they play within African culture.
Cultural context allows for an opportunity to develop a greater sense of significance and appreciation when looking at art in other parts of the world. For instance, I had little idea of how important masks were in the Dogon of Mali located in West Africa.
Culture is the history, beliefs and practices that make up a society. African art and culture are the same, they blend and create an explanation of the world, it includes ritual and ceremonial objects, items that are used daily. Artists in Africa are communicators, they record significant events and relate important cultural beliefs, they use their history and tradition and allow it to influence the art they produce which is incredibly unique in comparison to modern-day art.
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