Sculpture is the branch of the visual Arts that can be molded from stone, metals, ceramic and wood. However the focus of this blog is on wood sculptures. According to Wikipedia, ‘wood carving’ is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands resulting in a wooden figure. “Africansculpture” is new and unfamiliar to most non- Africans, however it is the product of ancient civilizations and many centuries of artistic tradition. Initially, the’ masks’ and figures may seem strange, but when viewed in terms of their own cultures, they can be seen to be sophisticated, powerful, and ‘dynamic. Unlike the art of Western societies, traditional African art was a functional and necessary part of everyday life and it would be impossible to understand African cultures without an understanding of their arts. These sculptures were deeply woven into the social life of the people and played a central role in binding together all members of the community.
Africa portrayed a visual culture by engaging into ‘carving’
of sculptures. Most of ‘African sculptures’ was historically in wood. Wood
carving remains today the primary sculptural art form of the sub Saharan
continent. African art history shows that the earliest wooden sculptures from
the 17th century are attributed to the kuba, Central Zaire but the
earliest surviving sub-Saharan sculpture is a Zoomorphic head found in 1928 in
central ‘Angola’. ‘Masks’ are important elements in the arts of many African
countries, along with human figures often in a particular style. Each style or
design is unique and portray a particular meaning. These masks and other visual
arts carved by African artists portrayed a great sense of realism of the
African culture. Traditionalists like “Lamidi Fakeye” a Nigerian, produces
sculptures and wood carvings based on classical African design. From these
images, one can learn how ancient tribes and cultures viewed the universe
around them. Observing these sculptures and carvings may give a great insight into
their thoughts as well as their spiritual and physical worlds
Sculptures were important in the religious rituals which
were a central force in African life, giving social cohesion through common
belief and participation in ceremonial events. The masks and figures used in
such rites were not worshiped; however it was believed that the world was
inhibited by many unseen spirits, each with its own powers and personality.
These spirits involved themselves in the lives of human beings for both good
and evil. The sculptures and masks were the vehicles through which these
spirits made themselves seen and their presence known in the world of the
people. The objects themselves did not contain the spirit and hence, though
they were respected and honoured, they were not worshiped.
Masks representing spirit forces were particularly important
at ceremonies marking major changes in the lives of individuals or community
events such as “Initiations into adulthood” or funeral ceremonies. It also
served as a symbol of authority and played important roles in maintaining social order. They also served as teaching aids used to explain about African
culture. African art is principally symbolic rather than representational. It
is more concerned with visualizing concepts rather than with accurately
representing nature.
In all, aside the ceremonial usage of the masks and
sculptures, contemporary African societies use them for beautification
purposes. African artists now carve sculptures in a very attractive way with
colourful paintings and designs for beautification and decoration. Now people
purchase the sculptures not for only spiritual purposes but just to decorate
their rooms, living rooms, restaurants, offices, among others. Also these masks
and sculptures are so beautiful that most non-Africans, who come to Africa as
tourists, love to take pictures and even buy them.
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