a brief note on themes in African art. - by isaac Samuel
Cartography, Culture and History in the artwork of the Bamum kingdom.
=========================== #### Discover more from African History Extra All about African history; narrating the continent's neglected past Over 6,000 subscribers a brief note on themes in African art.
====================================== ### Cartography, Culture and History in the artwork of the Bamum kingdom. ( Jul 21, 2024 26 Sometime in the early 14th century, a skilled smith in the West African kingdom of Ife sculpted an image of a King's face into a mask of pure copper.( With its idealized features and naturalistic proportions, the copper mask of King Obalufon of Ife is considered one of the finest pieces of African art and is today one of many examples of African self-representation that informs our image of the continent's past. The rich heritage of African art represents a comprehensive visual document of the history of its many societies, each with its unique aesthetics and deep-rooted symbolism. The various art traditions that emerged across the continent —such as the famous (
, the (
, and the (
— include specific themes that expressed African concepts of power and religion, as well as depicting daily life in African societies. _**copper mask of King Obalufon Alaiyemore and crowned heads from the Wunmonije site of Ife. early 14th century. NCMM, Lagos, and British Museum.**_ _**carved ivory tusk depicting scenes of daily life, late 19th century, Loango Kingdom, Gabon. British Museum**_ While sculptural art features prominently in most African art traditions, several societies also produced painted artworks and drawings on different mediums including on walls, cloth, paper, wood, and pottery. ( primarily consist of mural paintings in buildings and tombs, paintings on canvas and panels, as well as illuminated manuscripts decorated with miniature illustrations and intricate designs. _**Ethiopian painting of "The Last Supper", tempera on linen, 18th century, Virginia museum of Fine Arts.**_ _**Swahili Qur’an, late 18th to early 19th century, Siyu, Kenya. Fowler Museum.**_ Many of the oldest forms of African paintings and drawings come from the regions of ( and Ethiopia, which produced a vast corpus of murals, canvas and panel paintings, and miniature artwork in manuscripts. However, the production of illuminated manuscripts was more widespread with several examples from East Africa's Swahili coast and most parts of West Africa. In the West African kingdom of Bamum, the reign of its progressive king Njoya (1887-1933) was the height of the kingdom’s artistic production and innovation that resulted in the creation of some of Africa's most celebrated artworks. The highly skilled artists of Bamum produced maps of their kingdom and capital, drawings of historical events and fables, images of the kingdom's architecture, and illustrations depicting artisans, royals, and daily life in the kingdom. **The artworks of the kingdom of Bamum are the subject of my latest Patreon article,** **Please subscribe to read about them in this article where I explore more than 30 drawings preserved in various museums and private collections.** ( * * * * * * _**The Flight into Egypt, Bamileke artist, early 20th century, Quai Branly Museum.**_ Thanks for reading African History Extra! for free to receive new posts and support my work. ( [Ancient Ife and its masterpieces of African art: transforming glass, copper and terracotta into sculptural symbols of power and ritual
### Title: A Brief Note on Themes in African Art  
**Author:** Isaac Samuel  
**Description:** Cartography, Culture, and History in the Artwork of the Bamum Kingdom  

---

### Introduction 
- African art serves as a comprehensive visual document of the continent's diverse societies.
- Each society showcases unique aesthetics and symbolism through their artistic traditions.

### Historical Context of African Art
1. **Significant Artwork Example:**
   - **Copper Mask of King Obalufon of Ife:**  
     - Date: Early 14th century.  
     - Significance: Sculpted by a skilled smith in Ife, it features idealized characteristics and naturalistic proportions.  
     - Importance: Recognized as one of the finest pieces of African art, reflecting African self-representation.

2. **Art Traditions:**
   - African art encompasses various forms such as:
     - Sculptural art.
     - Painted artworks on multiple mediums: walls, cloth, paper, wood, and pottery.
   - Art forms include:
     - **Mural Paintings:** Commonly found in buildings and tombs.
     - **Canvas and Panel Paintings:** Illustrated through intricate designs and miniature illustrations.

### Regional Contributions 
1. **Early Forms of Painting:**
   - Notable regions for ancient paintings:
     - **Western Africa** and **Ethiopia.**
   - The production of illuminated manuscripts was prevalent, especially in:
     - The Swahili coast and various parts of West Africa.

### Bamum Kingdom's Artistic Contributions
1. **Kingdom of Bamum:**
   - Reign of **King Njoya (1887-1933):**  
     - Period marked by artistic innovation and production.
     - Creation of celebrated artworks by skilled Bamum artists.

2. **Artistic Output:**
   - Artists in the Bamum Kingdom produced:
     - Maps depicting the kingdom and its capital.
     - Illustrations of historical events and fables.
     - Representations of the kingdom's architecture.
     - Depictions of artisans, royals, and daily life.

### Conclusion
- The artworks of the Bamum Kingdom are explored in detail in a dedicated article, available for patrons.  
- This article examines over 30 drawings preserved in various museums and private collections.

### References to Notable Artworks
- **Copper Mask of King Obalufon Alaiyemore:** Early 14th century, NCMM, Lagos, and British Museum.
- **Carved Ivory Tusk:** Depicts daily life from the late 19th century, Loango Kingdom, Gabon, British Museum.
- **Ethiopian Painting of "The Last Supper":** 18th century, tempera on linen, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
- **Swahili Qur'an:** Late 18th to early 19th century, Siyu, Kenya, Fowler Museum.
- **The Flight Into Egypt:** Bamileke artist, early 20th century, Quai Branly Museum.

---

This rewritten content presents a clear, step-by-step narrative focusing on factual accuracy regarding the themes in African art, particularly in the context of the Bamum Kingdom.