African traditional crafts: Mask wood carvings of black tribes
Bambara people wood carvings
The Bambara people are the largest tribe in Mali, except for desert areas , all over the country. They are a brave and intelligent tribe who adhere to their traditional religion and customs. The characteristics of their wooden statues are: convex faces, square-pointed lips, falling hair accessories, and stiff and powerful postures. A kind of statue called "Segu" has an aquiline nose that goes from the head to the forehead, and the body is slender and cylindrical; the semicircular breasts are carved in the lower part of the chest; the arms hang naturally and the hands are wide. , in the shape of claws or open palms, with protruding frog mouths and unique hairstyles. They are rarely painted, but are decorated with decorations and metal nails. Some are embedded with shells or beads for eyes, and have exquisite copper rings on their noses and ears. The Bambara people are famous for their Chiwara antelope crest. The antelope is the symbol of the Bambara people, and local young men and women like to use this ornament to decorate themselves during festive festivals. The Bambara people often use the antelope theme for wood carvings, but they do not repeat it invariably, but combine it with human figures and other animal images and express it in different forms. In the upper reaches of the Niger River, there is a horizontal antelope mask. It is characterized by two horns that curve upward and outward, and the mouth is wide open, as if shouting in joy; the back has a graceful curvature, engraved with patterns representing antelope fur; the surface is smooth and the pattern is well-proportioned; the antelope legs are made of zigzag. line performance. In some Buguni villages, the horizontal antelope mask was replaced by the vertical Suguuni mask. This composition is an older form of the mask worn by the antelope dance. In this type of composition, the antelope's mane is herringbone-shaped, and there are some animal images (lizards, horses, antelopes) on the antelope's trunk, and a woman is often carved on it.
Dogon Wood Sculpture
The Dogon are an agricultural tribe in the Volta River Basin. They migrated from the south hundreds of years ago and settled south of Timbuktu. Their wood carving art, like the Dogon people, has a unique personality. The oldest carved figure is called Tellem, which was produced more than 200 years ago. This is a human figure with arms raised, often combined with animal carvings. Its image can be seen on temple vessels, stools and wooden troughs. The characteristics of this kind of statue are: the wood is as hard as stone, mostly gray or red, dynamic, vivid and graceful, and extremely expressive. Some figures have the characteristics of both men and women: facial beards, protruding breasts, prominent umbilical cords, curved backs, protruding buttocks lines that are suddenly broken, most of which are kneeling or seated figures, some wearing jewelry, some holding axes, and some Holding a child. The compositions of more modern Dogon statues tend to be geometric, giving them a sense of solemnity and tranquility. Characteristics are: the carved surface is obvious, the carved lines are mostly in the shape of right angles, the body and limbs have gem-like facets, the umbilical cord is pyramid-shaped, the head often forms a semicircle and is cut off at the lower forehead, and the eyes and mouth are triangular or square. , the ears are semi-circular pendants, and the nose is as straight as an arrow. Some wear beads, and some place two figures side by side on a pedestal. The Dogon people also have masks, which are processed in a concise, bold and general form. Its characteristics are: the shape is slender, sometimes rectangular, the concave cheeks are clearly separated from the bridge of the nose, the bridge of the nose is rectangular or herringbone, rich in decoration, the mouth shape is like a protruding cone, and the human face shape is mixed with the animal image. The Dogon people also have a multi-layered mask with a hollow carved crest that is 5 meters high. The Kanaga mask is a round mask with a "■" pattern and an ancestor's image on the top. There are different interpretations of the meaning of this graphic. Some people think it is a symbol of hunting birds; others think it is a symbol of the crocodile in the Dogon people's mythology. There are more than 80 types of Dogon masks, all of which are used for dance decoration.
Senufo Woodcarvings
The Senufo are an agricultural tribe in the Volta River Basin who settled in the north of Ivory Coast and in certain areas of Burkina Faso and Mali. They have maintained their ancestral beliefs and customs. Their sculptures are generally divided into 5 categories: Debler statues. The body and limbs are elongated and cylindrical on a narrow base, the head is sometimes small, and the neck is elongated. This kind of statue is used during shrine ceremonies. Degler mask. A small helmet-shaped mask used during nighttime funerals. There is an abstract figure on top, no arms. The composition is symmetrical and neat, and the facial expression is solemn and tranquil. Statuary work. The form is concise and full of vitality. The various parts of the body (head, breasts, umbilical cord, etc.) that protrude forward form a sense of rhythm. The hair ornament has a droop covering the forehead, the cheeks are protruding, the breasts are round and pointed, the abdomen protrudes forward at the umbilical cord, the hips are slender, and the hands and feet are sometimes exaggerated to look like animal claws. The shoulders are tilted back and the back is curved, giving a sense of balance. There are standing, seated, and equestrian statues. During funerals, the statues are placed on covered sacrificial vessels. Sometimes the statues are decorated on chairs or butter dishes and other daily necessities. Young farmers put the statues in the fields when they held farm work competitions. Bird engraving. The bird is the symbol of the Senufo tribe. The carving form is simple, often with wings spread. Sometimes the image of the bird is also placed on the mask as a decoration. Fire-breathing beast mask. This mask is used in religious ceremonies. In the middle part of the mask, around the eyes and nose, there are various animal images, such as wild boar, thylacine, buffalo, antelope, crocodile, ape, crane, eagle or lizard.
Baga Woodcarvings
The Baga people migrated to Guinea from the source of the Niger River. The carving style has some connection with the Bambara people. Characteristics are: simple form, large head, pointed aquiline nose, novel hair style; head tilted forward, supported by two bare arms; body huge and barrel-shaped, some with tight waist and short legs sturdy. All classes of Baga people have corresponding masks. Worn during harvest time or at funerals. For example, the Nimba shoulder mask is huge and weighs more than 60 kilograms. There are 4 supports in the lower part so that it can be placed on the wearer's shoulders. This mask has a smooth surface and carved lines and fish spine patterns. It forms a sharp contrast with other patterns. There are also some copper nails as decoration, creating a sense of balance and harmony. There is also a 2-meter-high Banda colored mask, which is representative of the higher class of the Baga people.
Wood carvings of the Bowler and Guro people
The Bowler live on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and are one of the largest tribes in Ivory Coast. The Bowlers mixed with the Guro and Senufo people who lived here and established a powerful kingdom. Both the Bowles and the Romans made contributions to the art of the Ivory Coast. The sculpture art of the Bowler and the Ancient Luo people is very distinctive. If you think that African art style is crude and primitive, you will come to the opposite conclusion after seeing the educated art of the Bowler and the Ancient Luo people. Carvings were used by the Bowler and Guro people to create images of their ancestors and gods. When they create objects, they always create with a realistic attitude. When following traditional habits, they do not give up the typical portrayal of the characters' personalities, so the characters they create have distinctive personalities. The postures of the Bowler statues are solemn and elegant, mostly standing or seated; their hands are placed on their chests or stroking their beards; their legs are thick and plump, with their knees slightly turned inward; their bodies are slender and rounded, and they are engraved with obvious decorative tattoos; carvings The surface is polished and shiny, and oiled and blackened. The ancient Roman statues are small in shape, humorous and finely carved. The Bowler's mask is also very beautiful, with a quiet and quaint facial expression. The extremely delicate chest, clear eyelashes, distinct eye sockets, decorative tattoos on the smooth forehead, wavy hair, and the curves of the face all testify to the high skill of the Bowler's art.
Ashanti Woodcarving
The Ashanti people live along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, and their woodcarving art is very elegant. For example, the Akuaba statue is a small wood carving commonly used in ethnic customs. This kind of statue is worn by women on their loincloths to represent the ability to give birth to beautiful children. The Ashanti people do not worship ancestral idols but revere the divine authority of the "Golden Stool". The "golden stool" is a wooden stool, part of which is inlaid with gold leaf. The basic style of this sacred stool has been constantly changing. Later it was decorated with thin leaves of gold and silver, and the legs of the stool and the legs of the statue were carved with hollow details.
Yoruba Wood Sculpture
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Most of them settled in the vast area of ??southwestern Nigeria, and went deep into the territories of Holland America (today's Benin Republic), Togo and Ghana. This nation is not only influenced by Mediterranean and Eastern art, but also inherits excellent national traditions. The wood carvings they create mostly use symbolic techniques to express objects. The statues are brightly colored and richly decorated with beads. The combination of human and animal images is the main feature of this art. The types of Yoruba wood carvings include: statues of kings, nobles and chiefs, statue patterns on thrones, carved columns on both sides of the temple entrance and in the corridor, statues of gods on carved altars, and various wooden and carved utensils. The characteristics of the statue are: full and protruding lips, wide-open eyes, round pupils, clearly identifiable eyebrows and eyelashes, and large and drooping breasts. Each Yoruba people has his own mask, which he wears according to certain religious rituals. There are two types of masks that are most respected: the Glade mask, which is in the shape of a hemisphere and is worn on the head or clasped diagonally in front of the forehead. The forehead is tilted upward, the hair is complicated, the eyes are wide open, and the expression is rich. A large Yipa mask, in the shape of a barrel hat, worn over the entire head. Some are carved into double-faced heads with wide open mouths and protruding eyes, with a huge brightly colored decoration standing above their heads.
Igbo wood carvings
The Igbo people live in southeastern Nigeria and the eastern Niger River Delta, and are engaged in agriculture. Their mask works include women with white faces and men with black faces. They are carved figures with slender bodies and necks and short heads.
Bapende wood carvings
The Bapende people live in the west between the Kwango, Lui and Inzia rivers in Zaire. Their masks have novel forms and coordinated compositions. Characteristics are: curved eyelashes, droopy eyelids, prominent forehead, high cheekbones, thin chin, slightly upturned nose tip, and exposed nostrils.
Bakuba woodcarvings
The Bakuba people live between the Kasai River and its tributary Sankulu River in Zaire. The carving art is rich and colorful, and the 19 king statues that have been preserved are all seated statues with legs crossed and wearing swords and other symbols indicating special personal achievements. The masks commonly used by the Baquba people are: Bombo mask. A large wooden helmet mask inlaid with copper leaves on the outside. The forehead is significantly protruding. A vertical line connects the broad nose to the triangular mouth. This mask is worn during club ceremonies. Masambo mask. This mask has a rattan frame covered with palm leaves and decorated with sewn-on accessories such as shells, beads and pieces of leather. Only the nose, mouth and ears are carved from wood.
Parents used to wear it to force their female relatives to obey his leadership. It is now worn by dancers and performs in the market. Xena - Malula Mask. This kind of mask is brightly colored and beautiful, and its decoration is varied and colorful. The eyes are carved into a cone shape with many small holes carved around them.
Baluba woodcarvings
The Baluba people live in the southeastern part of Zaire, as far as Tanzania and Lake Mweru. Their statues do not have rough and grotesque forms and melancholy content. They are characterized by complex hair accessories, mostly cross-shaped or wavy shapes, clear boundaries between hair and forehead, almond-shaped eyes, small ears, carved tattoos on the body, and bright. The most common works with female images are statues of earth gods, while the male images are mainly tribal heroes. Each chief has a majestic statue. A kind of female figure called "beggar woman" is more expressive. Pregnant women often put this kind of statue in front of their house door before giving birth, and passers-by put gifts there. This way, the mother will not have difficulty in living due to not working during the delivery period. In the customs of the Baluba people, masks do not play as big a role as statues. But they also carved some vivid masks. For example, the Kiefer Weber mask is hemispherical, carved with grooves, and painted white within the grooves. This mask was worn when important chiefs were appointed and when visiting dignitaries.