African art usually refers to the works of black or sub-Saharan Africa, that part of the continent was originally occupied by Negro people who developed cultures quite separate from those of Caucasian North Africa. Within this vast geographic area there are regions of drastically different topography, climate, and natural resources. The e

Last but not least, Central Africa consists of Cameron, Chad, Angola, Zambia, Rwandi, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Vital contributions to the artistic traditions were made by several ethnic groups in this region. Central African art reinforces the authority of leaders and fulfills roles in ritual and religion, as it is the case in Africa. Both the Kuba and Luba people of the DRC developed statues that represented their kings. The king's statues would be rubbed with oil when they were away. Another artistic tradition of Central Africa is the wooden stools. And elaborate drinking cups were created into works of art for use by important people. Figures were developed for safety against enemies by the people of Kongo in DRC. The magical powers of the figures are activated by driving nails or blades into them. Another significant indication of status and beauty was the scarification of the body. The Chokwe, Lunda, and other groups in northern Zambia, northern Angola, and southern DRC make a series of masks for use during initiation rites. Performances with these masks serve to educate the boys about their social responsibilities as adult males.

Awareness of the history of visual arts in Africa is incomplete. The earliest known sculptures are the pottery heads and figures of the Nok culture of Nigeria. This also provides the earliest evidence for ironworking in sub-Saharan Africa, where the Iron Age immediately follows the Stone Ages. The earliest evidence for the use of copper and its alloys comes for the Igbo village of Igbo-Ukwu, also in Nigaria. These show no relationship in style either to the famous brass castings of the Yoruba city of Ife or those of Benin. Additional examples of antique pottery sculptures consist of the heads from Lydenburg in South Africa dated to about AD 500. Sculptures in stone are notorious from Sierra Leone, most likely the work of Sherbro carvers and datable to no later than the 16th century, and from the Kongo people of the area near the mouth of the Congo River. In the 16th century, ivory was being carved with amazing skill at Benin and by the Shebro of Sierra Leone. The earliest known sculptures in wood may be certain portrait statues of kings of the Kuba, central Zaire, thought to date from the 17th century. Some of the best sculptures in wood date only from the 1920's. Some examples of these are the works of Yoruba masters such as Olowe of Ise and Areogun of Osi-Ilorin. The earliest known textiles in sub-Sahara Africa are the best fiber fragments from Igbo-Ukwu and the cotton and woolen cloths found in the Tellem caves of the Bandiagara region of Mali. None of these artistic manifestations represents a beginning of any kind; each appears as fully developed in style. I think the way in which Jose Castro states what the role of the artist is, is true.

creat

Some common words found in the essay are:
South Africa, Jose Castro, Africa African, Central Africa, Islam Christianity, Xhosa Ndebele, Western Africa, North Africa, Nigeria Benin, , african art, central africa, south africa, sub-saharan africa, southern africa, western africa, africa african, africa african art, artistic traditions, african art usually, art africa, history african, late 19th century, traditions african art, history african art,
Approximate Word count = 1924
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)