Following a generat essay, this book consists of four chapters, each beginning with a brief introduction to the area concerned: Central, East and southern Africa, West Africa, and Mediterranean North Africa. (Egypt is the subject of a separate volume in this World Art series.) Each of the "icons" chosen is accompanied by a description of its notable artistic and iconographic features. The result is an informative survey of African art, shown through a selection of its outstanding achievements.

  Africa is one of the most important art regions in the world.Rock art in the Sahara is order than the earliest Egyptian dynasties. The "lost" Nok and Sokoto cultures in present-day Nigeria in the first millennium BC mark the spectacular start of African antiquity. Later high points in the same region include the kingdoms of lgbo-Ukwu, Ire, and Benin (in the 16th century). Around the same time, the town of Djenne at the inland delta of the Niger River and the Tellem/Dogon region in Mali experienced a zenith of their artistic culture.

  The time frame of the selected fifty masterpieces presented here covers more than 2,500 years inctuding earty archaeotogicat findings, via the great cultures of the African middle ages, to the traditionat art of the 20th century. African artists were masters of their materials, whether casting in bronze, shaping terracotta, working iron, carving wood or weaving cotton. Precious textiles, basketry, bead objects and carved ivory are inctuded in this volume as well as highstatus ancestral, figures and cult statues.

  Following a generat essay, this book consists of four chapters, each beginning with a brief introduction to the area concerned: Central, East and southern Africa, West Africa, and Mediterranean North Africa. (Egypt is the subject of a separate volume in this World Art series.) Each of the "icons" chosen is accompanied by a description of its notable artistic and iconographic features. The result is an informative survey of African art, shown through a selection of its outstanding achievements.

Foreword

Chronological table

Art in Africa: The Post-Colonial Perspective

Map of Africa

Plates

Central Africa

Fang ~ Obamba/Mindumu ~ Yombe ~ Kongo

Kuba ~ Chokwe ~ Songye ~ Luba-Hemba

Luba ~ Ituri foragers ~ Zande

Eastern and Southern Africa

Haja/Rundi/Tutsi ~ Konso ~ Amhara ~ Makonde

Shona ~ South Africa ~ San ~ Ndebele

West Africa and the Guinea Coast

Nok Culture ~ Sokoto Culture ~ Ife Kingdom

Kingdom of Benin ~ Sapi ~ Yoruba

Boki ~ Kingdom of Kom ~ Bangwa ~ Ashanti

Ewe-Adangbe ~ Fante ~ Dan ~ Manding

Senufo ~ Lobi Region ~ Region of Segou

Dogon ~ Bamana ~ Air Mountains

North Africa

Mrabtine ~ Anti-Atlas ~ Rabat ~ Berber

Bibliography