Map of Africa Before we begin to experience African art, it is important to know a few things about Africa itself. The African continent is very large; it is over three times the size of the United States (Alaska included). The African continent has many different climates and types of land. The environments range from Savannah (grassland with few or scattered trees) to rain forest, from high mountains to flat plains. These different environments are one factor leading to the variety of art types produced in Africa. Within the continent of Africa, there are 53 separate countries. Some well-known African countries are Egypt, Kenya, Somalia, South Africa, Mali, and Liberia. Many people think of the African continent as having a unified culture. Actually, there are many, many types of people in Africa. Africa has more different ethnic groups than any other continent. These groups speak different languages, practice diverse religions and customs, and of course create different styles of art. The African art at the de Young Museum is from Sub-Saharan Africa, that means the countries located south of the Sahara desert. The Sahara is a vast desert stretching from Western Sahara to Somalia. Northern Africa is predominantly Muslim and identifies itself as a member of the Islamic rather than African world. (North African countries include Morocco, Algeria, Libya and Egypt.) Islam has its own rich tradition of art that differs greatly from that of the rest of Africa. Egypt and other countries north of the Sahara desert have stronger ties to the Mediterranean world than to Sub-Saharan Africa. Because of the barrier created by the Sahara desert, the cultures and the art of North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa are very different. Because our collection focuses primarily on the art from West and Central Africa this guide will deal with only those two areas. (There are a few objects from East and South Africa in the collection). Some West African countries are Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. Some Central African countries are Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equitorial Guinea, Congo, Zaire, and Angola. Within West and Central Africa there are also many different ethnic groups, languages, religions, and customs. West and Central African art differs from art of the other regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. One major difference between East African and West African art is that East African cultures have not produced as much wood carving because their traditional way of life does not make it easy or desirable for these people to produce wooden art objects. East African cultures are traditionally and predominantly cattle herders. They are non-sedentary, that is they follow their herds and move their settlements frequently rather than remain in one locale. Some East African communities farm, but they likewise move frequently when their land fails to produce more crops. Because of their non-sedentary life styles, East African cultures do not produce or accumulate large quantities of sculpture or masks. Wood is the primary material used in traditional African art. Most African forests are located in West and Central Africa and therefore wood is more readily available in these areas. The sedentary, agriculturally based communities of West and Central Africa have produced most of the African sculpture that is collected in Europe and in the United States. PART 1-PAGE 2 OF 4
SLIDE 2
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT AFRICA?
Introduction | Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Slide List | Museum Visit