African art cannot be generalized; its diversity of form can be appreciated by the variety of artifacts available, from the street vendor on the African continent selling contemporary Makonde art to tourists, to the highly coveted African tribal artifacts auctioned to art collectors and art museums. It is difficult to understand the history of African art since there is no set methodology, there are few written records. African art historians rely on oral history, geography and archeological finds.
African Art Influences
To understanding African Art, it is important to learn more about what influenced the African artists.
· The continent's rich and dynamic history dating back to prehistoric times played a major role in the artwork that is seen today. The Hamar people of southwestern Ethiopia are a living example of the rich history of the African people. The hamar still live an existence barely touched by civilization still practicing one of the original forms of African art; the art of body scarification.
· The location or geography of the artist’s society determined the materials the artist used. The Dogon people of Mali made African masks and carving made of wood, since wood was the readily available locally.
· The lifestyle of the indigenous society played a role in defining the artist expression of the African artist. Successful civilizations like the Benin Civilization of South Central Nigeria produced intricately designed African masks and elaborate headdresses for ceremonial purposes. This art was a reflection of their success as a society.
Drawing, Paintings and Carvings on Rocks
The origins of African art can be traced back to the early pre-historical times when tools were fashioned to make life easier. About 30,000 years ago rock art was used to depict different aspects of life with imagery appearing on rocks. Some of this rock art can be seen at the Ceres Karoo in South Africa. The rock art which includes paintings, drawings and engravings depicts animals and human figures in narrative scenes. Even though African rock art has prehistoric roots it was practiced way into the 19th century.
Art in Early African Societies
Early African art pieces were originally made from wood since this was the most abundant material available. The oldest art piece is a wooden African mask that was found in Angola and was dated to about 730 A.D (This mask is located in the Musee Royal de l’Afrique Centrale). Some early societies like the Maasai and the Wodabe people did not make masks but adorned themselves instead. The early African art symbolized the social, spiritual and political levels within the groups. The Nok from West Africa civilization is an example of the changing trend over time of African art. The Nok were a successful society and used terracotta to make their sculptures moving beyond the wood carvings of previous civilizations.
African Art in Everyday Life
African art had the unique ability to combine spirituality, with form and usability; it was never created to be placed in a museum. The art consisted of mainly utilitarian pieces, once worn out; the Africans threw the pieces out and replaced them. The pieces found life in their functions within the communities, an African mask was used in a ceremony as part of dance, or a sculpture could have served memorial symbol of an important ancestor. The artifacts did not just sit on shelves they were incorporated into ceremonies invoking ancestors or as teaching tools.
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