Cultures

Cultures are a series of essays made for the Savannah African Art Museum. Each one explores a culture or theme across objects in the collection.

Vessel
19th - 20th century. Bronze. Cameroon (Western Grasslands)
Image courtesy of the Savannah African Art Museum.

• The Cameroonian Grasslands are a diverse and creative cluster of kingdoms.

• The Edo of the Benin Kingdom are a case study of culture and continuity.

• Traditional African furniture is distinct by being close to the ground.

• Items, such as the Opon Ifá – divination trays – summarizes key traits of the Yoruba religion, Ifá.

• The cowrie shells presented in Bwoom’s mask indicate the economic growth of the Kuba Kingdom.

• The Kuba Kingdom uses myth and culture to forge unity.

• The Yoruba sculptor, Olowe of Ise, walks the fine line between art and design.

• Nkisi nkondi are spiritual and social artefacts that emerge at the climax of the Kongo, Loango & Songye cultures in western Central Africa.

• The helmet masks of the Sande and Sowei women’s initiation societies, embody the values of wisdom beauty, grace and self-control.

• The West African region is home to generations of city-states, kingdoms and empires along the river Niger.