Kente Unity is Strength for most a high status garment worn on special occasions worn as clothing as royal regalia can be used in shrine altar context made in a range of qualities heavier elaborate kente is reserved for Kings men wear one large cloth women tend to wear two smaller cloths kente cloth red gold green black white 8 9 yards worn has sculpture with all the folds named cloth pattern is a little uneven irregularity woven on very skinny looms Kente Unity is Strength Cotton and silk Asante Ghana The Ejisuhene Ruler of Ejisu Ghana full regalia dress bracelets slippers with gold fly whisk kente adornment worn by royalty and court members regalia helps create and legitimize royal authority intimate relationship between art and leadership kings commission regalia creates pageantry and mystery around the royalty and spectacle assemblage on human being feet raised because he is so powerful importance of the ensemble dazzling impact wears full regalia at coronation and ceremonies rites of purification swearing in chiefs commemoration of ancestors The Ejisuhene Ruler of Ejisu Ghana wearing kente and cast gold ornaments Asante Ghana The Golden Stool Wood hammered gold iron and cast gold bells Asante Ghana GOLDEN STOOL OF ASANTE so sacred and so important it sits on its own throne never been used as a seat oral tradition relays it came during the founding time of Asante Osei Tutu contains spirit of Asante nation came from the sky and sat in lap of Osei Tutu represented unification of Asante in this confederacy talked about as if it were alive gold used in its construction is said to represent the essence of the sun connected to life force when British officials tried to remove it there was a revolt lead by Queen Mother buried for its protection not unearthed until 1927 a new gold leaf was hammered to the figure bells and four gold figures hang it is rung to announce presence Linguist staff proverbs assert legitimacy of the king relates to praise of linguist ananse brought wisdom and weaving he is the originator of folk tales and proverbs you cannot challenge ananse in his domain enormous emphasis on speech because of no written language Linguist staff Wood and gold leaf Asante Ghana No one goes to the house of the spider Ananse to teach him wisdom Throne and footstool of King Nsangu carved of wood and beaded glass royal treasuries included textiles beaded objects furnishings sculpture and mask the most significant status symbol and political object was the carved stool which was often beaded stools were often carved with leopards elephants pythons and buffalo some are sat upon and some are symbolic objects this one stands about 5 feet tall the cylindrical part of the stool has the double headed servant rep 2 retainers of the court male on left female on right male holds drinking horn a symbol of his status his hand rest under his chin a gesture of great respect to the king female on the right carries a beaded bowl was used to hold kola nuts and food offerings has white breasts red blue black white motif is used to show king s military power double faced something warrior figures hold guns on base king is so wealthy there is an embroidery of cowry shells throne was called richness of beads mandu yeno thrones were all consecrated before the king sat on them blood of ram was smeared on interior of throne each king commissioned his own throne at death of a king often the throne was buried with him or left to decay no other king could use the throne after a new kings coronation a new throne was commissioned that reflected his particular motifs the two headed serpent which can strike in opposite directions simultaneously symbolizes the monarch s power Cowrie shells and beadwork indicate wealth Throne and footstool of King Nsangu Materials wood textile glass beads and cowrie shells Bamum Cameroon Fon Jinaboh II at his enthronement with the AFO A KOM kind of royal throne figures were not sat on part of memorial figure tradition loosely translated the thing belonging to the Kom people king in center wives on either side figures are dressed when brought in public afo a kom beads are red hard to see because they have been encrusted with stuff believed the three statues were carved by Yu he was an artisan king the central image is an abstract portrait of Yu Yu wears a prestige cap holds a short staff red evokes color of camwood used on body of king stolen in 1966 found in 1973 in art gallery so sacred that without the figures the culture had felt they were in decline returned in 1974 great ceremony kept in sanctuary when not in use Fon Jinaboh II at his enthronement with the afo a Kom Kom Cameroon wood glass beads and cloth Ndop textile with map of palace Bamum shows the layout of the palace at the center is the king and the queen mother protective forces on the exterior with guard houses on the corners ties to the idea of the king as a religious leader draped within the palace often provided backdrop to the king also draped on exterior walls functions as a space divider men do the weaving and dyeing and women do the sewing Ndop textiles have specific meanings and names Ndop textile with map of palace grounds cotton and indigo dyes Bamum Cameroon Chief s throne of seat of office with figurative scenes important for world view functional prestige objects ceremonial pipes for tobacco symbolic microcosm of chokwe life upper part of chair represent spiritual aspects the bottom rungs are representations from everyday life king sits in chair to unite both worlds chief is god on earth top rungs dancing figures chokwe conical mask used during initiation rites conical hat related to fertility initiation and circumcision 2 birds with touching horns Ngungu birds accociated with hunting good omen bottom rungs men with cattle trade and cattle represented women holding plates domestic activity of food preparation shows men and women s duties of in daily life Chief s throne with figurative scenes Wood brass tacks leather Chokwe Angola Commemorative female figure hands placed near belly show her high status queen to first receive high status incarnation of female subjects matrilineal society fullness of legs and arms defined fingers and toes Commemorative female figure Wood human hair and red clay Chokwe Angola Commemorative figure of a chief with staff and horn real human hair braided on beard evoke royal ancestor Ilunga large eyes flared nostrils heavy volume weightiness of the legs and feet staff is a