Benin City thrives today, however, and the palace, where the Benin king continues to live, has been partially rebuilt. Benin artists have produced many complex, finely cast copper-alloy sculptures, as well as artworks in ivory, wood, ceramic, and wrought iron. The hereditary oba, or sacred king, and his court still use and dispense art objects as royal favors to title holders and other chiefs. QUEEN MOTHER IVORY One of the masterworks of Benin ivory carving is a woman’s head in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which a Benin king almost certainly wore at his waist. A nearly identical pendant, fashioned from the same piece of ivory, is in the British Museum.
Benin is well known for its brass sculptures and plaques. Their function was to please the ruler by recording great moments in the nation’s history and thus displaying his power. For example, the ruler had his great achievements recorded on plaques which would then adorn the walls of his residence. A famous example of these is the plaque Oba with the Europeans, made in the 16th century CE, although the first plaques were made in the 13th century CE. There are many interpretations of the symbolism behind the this plaque.
They have produced credible arguments and evidence to support the contact between the Atlantic world and West Africa before 1492. This was done through vigorous studies, applying adequate knowledge and visiting these historical sites to evaluate their relics. The evidence of this contact is expounded though linguistics which is language and archaeological prove which are relics and statues. This critical approach is of considerable importance, for it encourages the consideration and exploration of areas of knowledge that have long been ignored. It challenges us to ask questions about the politics of historical questioning and to assert alternative
Haven given an exposé on what the write-up is all about, I now proceed to discuss ten proverbs in my culture- the Igbo culture and how it influences the philosophy of my people. But before I proceed, I will discuss in brief, who the Igbo are, their culture and belief system and their geographical location in Nigeria. THE IGBO RACE The Igbo race is made up of Nigerians living in a geographical area known as the South East area of Nigeria. The area is made up of five states besides traces of the Igbo speaking people that exhibit Igbo traits in some surrounding states like Delta and Rivers. The five Igbo states (South East States), are Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
Meanwhile in the dry north of Cameroon, Arabic and Hamitic migratory groups began to settle and build several different important civilizations around the Chad Basin. Some of these tribes that had strongholds of power in the area were the Karem, Bournou, and Sou peoples. At the start of 1500 BC the nomadic, Islamist Fulani tribe migrated to the Northern area where these various ethnic groups were settled and by the 1700’s had established a powerful presence in the region displacing large groups of non-Muslim inhabitants. The Portuguese were one of the first European countries to arrive in Cameroon in the 15th century. Fernando Po was an explorer from Portugal who was leading an expedition up the Wouri River in 1472.
West Africans looked to the Americas as a source of trade, commerce, a place to settle and a place to build new civilizations. The History of African civilization and Africans in Latin America is an important beginning to African American’s because; in world history these two regions were the first areas of the Americas to be populated by African immigrants and we’re also the first people to become African Americans. Africa has been portrayed in popular culture and academic discourse as a continent without history. Africa has history that was once overlooked but, as historians went back to reanalyze African history, they have represented the fact that Africa has changed over time, and that it has been a place of diverse groups of people throughout a long and rich history. Africa, in all of its regions, has a rich, diverse, and dynamic history.
Introduction Al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Wazzan al-Fasi or more popularly referred to as Leo Africanus along with Al-Bakri are two important historians and geographers whose works and discoveries gave the world an early account of ancient Africa. These two travelers are well-known for their chronicles relating to the regions of Africa. The kingdoms, practices, culture and even clothing were written with such great detail. In fact, modern historians suggest that the works of Leo Africanus and Al-Bakri are evidently more detailed and credible than that of European historians. This essay paper will discuss the works of these two travelers.
Religion Things Fall Apart is a story about the Igbo clan of Nigeria. The bulk of the story focuses on the culture of the Igbo people and influence of Christian settlement on the clan. Chinua Achbe, in the novel Things Fall Apart, conveys a flavor of traditional African culture in the 1800`s. The author attempts to dispel the belief that the tribal peoples are without unique and important culture. Many of Achebe`s themes are not limited to the events in his novel, but relate to situations, in which traditional values are questioned and people from different cultures meet, the most profound impact being related to the themes of religion.
Johana Lyon Religion 232 Dr. Spights 3/18/2015 The Dance Inheritance Dance to Africa is like water for the crops. A necessity. Dance has always been a major part of the African culture and continues to thrive on. Being spoken on will be how the Dance Inheritance is incorporated in Kwanzaa, How it was implemented in the King Celebration and lastly, in the Praise House service. Dance is also one of the oldest major art forms there is.
Old town for example is renowned for its impressive carved doors. These Arab influenced doors are a decorative and interesting feature of the architecture of the coast of East Africa, and are a tradition which dates back to the Arabic coastal settlements of the early middle ages. The Arabs brought to Africa their unique and intricate sense of design, a trait which many African’s now incorporate into their own artistic