50 Cards in this Set
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THE GREAT BIERI
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FANG,GABON
MBOBEYIMA
PRE 1900
WOOD/PIGMENT(COPAL RESIN AND PALM OIL)
SOUTHERN FANG STYLE/CUNSULTED BEFORE EVENTS/OLDEST FORM OF NLO BIERI/EKUMA WARRIOR WIG/SYMMETRY+METAL EYES=POWER/RELIQUARY FIGURE
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BLACK VENUS
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FANG,GABON
MBOBEYIMA
19TH
WOOD/PIGMENT(COPAL RESIN+PALM OIL)
1/3 PROP/ROUNDNESS=GREATER MONUMENTALITY/BRINGS POWER AND WEALTH/FEMALE CONVEX FORMS/EMPH ON STOMACH/CALM FACE/TENSE BODY/REP FAMILY UNIT/NLO ORGO CRESTED HAIRSTYLE
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NLO BIERI
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FANG,GABON
MBOBEYIMA
19TH
WOOD/PIGMENT/BRASS
NORTHERN FANG STYLE/KEPT IN ENCLOSURES AWAY FROM HOUSES/WARN UNINITIATED AWAY/SYMBOL OF LINEAGE CONTINUITY/CARRIED DURING INITIATION/FACE=STRONG AND REFLECTIVE/FULL FIGURED/NECK AND HEAD VISIBLE/PROTECTS RELICS FROM WITCHCRAFT/MEDIATOR/RE…
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BWITI
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KOTA,GABON
19TH
WOOD/COPPER/BRASS
SAME AS NLO BIERI BUT SMALLER: NLO BIERI ARE OUTLAWED AND BWITI COME IN AND ARE MORE FIGURAL AND SMALLER
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BWETI
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HONGWE,GABON
19TH
WOOD,COPPER,BRASS
KEPT IN HOUSE OF FAMILY HEAD-SPECIAL SHELTER/CONSULTED BY FAM/BROUGHT OUT DURING CRISIS/RELICS TIED IN A BUNDLE/EACH HAS OWN NAME-NOT ANCESTOR NAME/HAS OWN SPECIAL AREA OF POWER
LARGE=CONCAVE/SHOVEL-LIKE/TOP KNOT BUN
SMALL=NO TOP KNOT BUN
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MUZIDI
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BEMBE,DRC
NGANGA
19-20TH
CANE,DRIED BANANA LEAVES,RELIQUARY BONES,CLOTH,PIGMENT
"MANNEQUIN"/KEPT IN GRAVE HOUSE/SEATED=NOBLE POSTURE/ARM UP ARM DOWN DIKENGA(RELATION TO LIVING AND DEAD)
PEOPLE GET SIGN FROM ANCESTORS TO DIG UP BONES AND PERFORM SECOND BURIAL
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NIOMBO
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BWENDE,DRC
NGANGA
19-20TH
CANE,PRESERVED HUMAN REMAINS,CLOTH,PIGMENT
LARGE SCALE MUZIDI/BODY SMOKE DRIED THEN PUT IN OBJECT/1ST BURIAL/WRAPPED IN RAFFIA/RED=POWER/PAINTED MOTIFS: ZIGZAG(LIFE AND DEATH), DIAMOND(CHIEF COMPLETED CIRCLE OF EXISTENCE), BIDIMBU(POWER/LEADERSHIP/VICTORY)/…
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NKISI NKONDI
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KONGO,DRC
NGANGA(BLACKSMITH+CLIENT)
19TH
WOOD/IRON/MIXED MEDIA
OFF OF IDEA MINKISI: "THINGS THAT DO THINGS" ACTIVATED BY POWERS OF THE DEAD/EARTH FROM DEAD-RIVER CLAY-KAOLIN-PUN ITEMS-BILONGO(IN STOMACH/HEAD/FEET)/MIRROR ON STOMACH REFELCTING AWAY EVIL/SMALL=INDIVIDUALLY OWNED/LARGE…
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KOZO(NKISI NKONDI)
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KONGO,DRC
NGANGA(BLACKSMITH+CLIENT)
19TH
WOOD,IRON,PIGMENT
USED LIKE NKISI NKONDI"
DOG: GREAT HUNTERS/THIS OBJECT IS A WITCH HUNTER/JANUS-FACED: SEES IN BOTH WORLDS AT ONCE/4 EYES=INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN LIVING AND DEAD
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NKISI "OF THE BELOW"
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KONGO,DRC
NGANGA(BLACKSMITH+CLIENT)
19TH
WOOD,FEATHERS,CLAWS,PIGMENT,FIBER
SAME IDEA AS NKISI"
ASSOCIATED WITH EARTH AND RIVERS/CONCERNED WITH WOMEN'S AFFAIRS-HEALING-COOLNESS-WHITENESS-SEASHELLS
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CRUCIFIX
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KONGO,DRC
NGANGA(+BLACKSMITH)
16TH-18TH
BRASS
ABSTRACTION/PROMINENT NAVEL/SOMETIMES BILONGO ATTACHED/SYMBOL OF CROSSROADS(RELATION BETWEEN LIVING AND DEAD)/BRASS: COPPER ALLOY AND PRESTIGE MATERIAL)/FUNCTIONS TO:HEAL/HUNT/DURING ANCESTRAL CEREMONIES
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TONI MALAU
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KONGO/DRC
NGANGA(+BLACKSMITH)
17TH-18TH
WOOD
AFRICAN FEATURES=ABSTRACTION-PROPORTION-ROYAL FLY WHISK PRESENT(KONGO KING SYMBOL)
ANTHONY OF GOOD FORTUNE: BEGAN RELIGIOUS-POLITICAL MOVEMENT(ANTONIANISM)
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA=PROTECTOR OF CHILDREN AND MOTHERS(FEMALE ASSOC)/JESUS=SEA…
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PUMBU MASK
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E. PENDE,DRC
MBEMBO
20TH
WOOD,PIGMENT,RAFFIA FIBER
RAFFIA WIG+TOPKNOT=ELDER REF/HOLDS WEAPONS OF WAR/RESTRAINED/KILLS CHICKEN OR GOAT BEFORE RETURNS TO KIBULU)KING'S HOME)/EXECUTER/DANGEROUS/WARLIKE NATURE OF CHIEF/HELMET MASK/WHITE RIMS=POWER+DEATH/RED=HEALTH/GEOMETRIC PATTERNS=TAT…
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KIPOKO MASK
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E. PENDE,DRC
MBEMBO
20TH
WOOD,PIGMENT,FIBER
BENEVOLENT-NURTURING SIDE OF CHIEF/CARICATURED/ROUND HELMET MASK/TOPKNOT-BEARD=ELDER REF/LARGE EYES-EARS=ALL KNOWING/SMALL MOUTH=THINK BEFORE SPEAKING/TAKES CHARGE OF KIBULU WHILE PUMBU PERFORMS @MUKANDA CEREMONY
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PANYA NGOMBE MASK
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E. PENDE,DRC
MBEMBO
20TH
WOOD,FIBER,PIGMENT
LINTEL DECOR ON CHIEF'S HOME/REPRESENTS ANCESTOR SPIRITS/HIGHEST RANK OF CHIEFS/POWER MASK/APPEARS DURING CIRCUMCISION OF MUKANDA ASSOC./NOW RARE:LESS CIRCUMCISION DONE OUTSIDE OF HOSPITALS
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MINGANJI MASQUERADERS
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C./W. PENDE,DRC
MBEMBO+NGANGA NGOMBE
2OTH
WOOD,FIBER,PIGMENT
REP ANCESTOR SPIRITS/PERFORMS AT MUKANDA TO TEACH VALUES/APPEARS IN WILDERNESS: SCARED OFF WOMEN AND UNINITIATED/ACT AS POLIC FORCE/"MAGIC NETTED RAFFIA"/APPEAR AT CONSTRUCTION OF CHIEF'S HOUSE +CHIEF'S DEATH
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GITENGA MASQUERADER
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C./W. PENDE,DRC
MBEMBO+NGANGA NGOMBO
20TH
WOOD,FIBER,PIGMENT
CHIEF OF MANGANJI/APPEARS 1ST/RED-RAYS=SUN-SUNSET(REGENERATION-LIFE-POWER)/SMALL HEART SHAPED FACE(WHITE: DEATH AND ANCESTORS)(RED:SETTING SUN-ANCESTORS)
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FUMU OR PUMBU MASK
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C./W. PENDE,DRC
MBEMBO+NGANGA NGOMBO
2OTH
WOOD/PIGMENT/FIBER
FUMU: FLY WISK+UMBRELLA
PUMBU: KNIFE+SWORD
NATURALISTIC/PERFORM ALONE OR IN PAIRS/CHARACTERS IN PERFORMANCE: PUMBU-FUMU-MBUNGU-GIWOYO-CLOWN-WOMAN[EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE FOR COMMUNITY]
MASCULINE FEATURES/BULGING FOREH…
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GIWOYO MASK
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C./W. PENDE,DRC
MBEMBO+NGANGA NGOMBO
20TH
WOOD,PIGMENT
ASSOC. WITH ANCESTORS/UNFOCUSSED STARE/ONLY CIRCUMCISED MEN CAN WEAR IT/KEPT IN CHIEF'S HOME/APPEARS AT TWILIGHT IN WILDERNESS/SITS ONTOP HEAD/ON CADAVER AT WAKE WITH SHEET UP TO CHIN
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MBANGU MASK
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C./W. PENDE,DRC
MBEMBO+NGANGA NGOMBO
20TH
WOOD,PIGMENT,FIBER
"THE BEWITCHED"/APPEARS WITH HUMPBACK AND ARROW(HUNTER+HUNTED MORAL LESSON)/EPILEPTIC+TWISTED FACE=EXAGERATE AND UGLY/DEMONSTRATES PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE OF ENVY..WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU ARE ENVIOUS/AMULETIC/COMPASSION…
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PRESTIGE CUP
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KUBA,DRC
BLACKSMITH
19TH
WOOD
KUBA CUP FOR PALM WINE/RAM'S HEAD=ROYAL ICON/SHEEP=FERTILITY AND STRENGTH/FEMALE ON HANDLE:REP FERTILITY+DYNASTY/SCARIFICATION=KUBA AND BEAUTY
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NDOP REPRESENTING "SHYAAM THE GREAT"
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KUBA,DRC
BLACKSMITH
18TH
WOOD,PALM OIL
IBOL=SYMBOLIC OBJECT IN FRONT OF FIGURE/EACH KING OVERSEES CREATION OF OWN NDOP/KEPT IN WIVE'S QUARTERS/COMMEMORATIVE FIGURES OF KINGS(PORTRAITS)/1/3 PROPORTION/SYMMETRICAL/ARMS TIGHT TO SIDES/CLOSED EYES=DETACHED+SPIRITUAL/COWRIE EYES=ROYAL WE…
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BARK CLOTH
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KUBA,DRC
MALE+FEMALE ARTISTS
19TH
BARK FIBER,RAFFIA,PIGMENT
ANCIENT CLOTH OF ANCESTORS/SCARIFICATION PATTERNS/SYMBOLIC MOTIFS/POUNDED INNER BARK/STAMP DYED+SEWN TOGETHER
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RAFFIA CLOTH
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KUBA,DRC
MALE+FAMLE ARTISTS
19TH-20TH
RAFFIA FIBER
MEN CULTIVATE PALM TREES AND WEAVE FIBER ON HORIZONTAL LOOMS/M+W DECORATE THEM AND SEW INTO LARGER CLOTHS/WOMEN=SKIRTS(6-9 YRDS) MEN=WRAPPERS(9+ YRDS)/APPLIQUE-EMBROIDERY-PATCHWORK/USED FOR TRADITIONAL CEREMONIAL DRESS-@MUKANDA-FOR …
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CUT-PILE CLOTH
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KUBA,DRC
FEMALE ARTISTS
19TH-20TH
RAFFIA FIBER
"VELVET" RAFFIA CLOTH/TIME CONSUMING/ASSOC. WITH SHYAAM/CARPET-LIKE DONE WITH NEEDLE/DARK+LIGHT CONTRAST/INTENTIONAL IRREGULARITY/NAMED AFTER ARTIST/DESIGNS RECALL NATURAL ELEMENTS/WORN @COURT FUNERALS
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MASH A MBOOY
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KUBA,DRC
MALE+FEMALE ARTISTS
19TH-20TH
MIXED MEDIA
REP OF WOOT(1ST HUMAN ANCESTOR) AND ORIGIN OF KUBA-WISDOM-ELDERS/ASSOC. WITH BUSHOONG KINGDOM/PROPERTY OF KING/WORN @ INSTALLATION OF KING-MUKANDA-FUNERALS/TAKES FORM OF ELDER-ANCESTOR/HELMET MASK/SLOW DANCE PERFORMANCE/HEADDRESS: R…
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MUKENGA MASK
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KUBA,DRC
MALE+FEMALE ARTISTS
19TH-20TH
MIXED MEDIA
MASK OF MWASH A MBOOY/ROYAL ELEPHANT MASK(WEALTH+IVORY)/ REP WATER AND FOREST SPIRITS/APPEARS @ ROYAL FUNERALS/REP KING AS ELEPHANT
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NGADY A MWASH
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KUBA,DRC
MALE+FEMALE ARTISTS
20TH
WOOD,PIGMENT,MIXED MEDIA
REP OF MWEEL/DANCES WITH MWASH MBOOY(WOOT)+BWOOM/OUTFIT=WOMEN'S WRAPPER+WOODEN BREASTS/CREATED BY KUBA QUEEN AND ACTS AS REGENT CULTURAL ROLE OF WOMEN/ DARK TRIANGLE=DOMESTICITY, BLUE=LEADERSHIP,DIAMOND ON FOREHEAD=KING MOTI…
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BWOOM
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KUBA,DRC
MALE ARTIST
20TH
WOOD,PIGMENT,MIXED MEDIA
BROTHER OF WOOT AND NATURE SPIRIT/ LOVER OF MWEEL/ IDENTIFIED WITH TWA WHO HANDED OVER BASKET OF WOOT/WOODEN HELMET MASK/STRIPS OVER EYES=NON HUMAN/PERFORMS @MUKANDA/ILLUSTRATES WOMEN'S PARADOXICAL ROLE(BEAUTY+IDEAL VS. WITCHCRAFT+A…
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HARP
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ZANDE,DRC
MALE ARTIST
19TH
WOOD,LIZARD SKIN,FIBER,PIGMENT
PERSONAL PRESTIGE OBJECT/DIPLOMATIC GIFT/EUROPEAN ANTHROPOMORPHIC IMAGERY
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ANTHRO-POMORPHIC VESSEL
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MANGBETU,DRC
MALE+FEMALE POTTERS
19TH
FIRED CLAY
WOMEN: MAKE BASE WITH COIL METHOD/MEN: MOLD HEAD/ WOMEN: ATTACH HEAD TO FIRE VESSEL/"IDEALIZED MANGBETU WOMAN"=ELONGATED HEAD-ELABORATE-FACE SCARIFICATION-THIN PORTRUDING EYES+LIPS-BODY PAINT/FORM=BASED ON LOCAL FRUITS AND PLANTS
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WOMEN WEARING BEADED NECKLACES/
WOMEN'S NECKLACES
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MAASAI,KENYA
FEMALE ARTISTS
20TH
METAL WIRE AND GLASS BEADS
BEADS SHOW ETHNIC DISTINCTION/GLASS-TRADE BEADS/EACH GIRL MAKES HER OWN NECKLACE(LARGE NECKLACE BOUNCES WHILE DANCING=BEAUTIFUL)/INITIAL CUT=BLACK LINE(REP GOD+AMULETIC)COLOR BALANCE CATCHES EYE/BREAKS AND CUTS=AESTHETIC PR…
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ROCK CUT CHURCH
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GADLA LALIBELA,ROHA-LALIBELA,ETHIOPIA
13TH
STONE
CAPITAL OF ROHA/8500 FT ABOVE SEA LEVEL/SITE CHOSEN BY GADLA LALIBELA AS "NEW JERUSALEM" IN ETHIOPIA 13TH C./THIS LOCATION WAS LATER NAMED LALIBELA AFTER HIM
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BETA GIORGIS
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GADLA LALIBELA,ROHA-LALIBELA,ETHIOPIA
13TH
STONE
ST.GEORGE: PROTECTIVE SAINT WHO SLAYED DRAGON WITH CROSS-PATRON ST. OF EITHIOPIA-COMPLAINED TO KING LALIBELA THAT THERE WAS NO CHURCH BUILT AFTER HIM...CHURCH WAS MADE/LAST CHURCH CONSTRUCTED "HOUSE OF ST. GEORGE"/ROCK-CUT STARTS AT GR…
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ST. GEORGE SLAYING THE DRAGON
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ETHIOPIA
QES ADAMU TESFAW
1993
PAINT ON CLOTH
LEGEND: IN THE TOWN OF SILENE-DRAGON IN LAKE EATING THE PEOPLE...ST. GEORGE TAMES DRAGON WITH CRUCIFIX...IF PEOPLE CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY HE WILL SLAY THE DRAGON...KING AND PEOPLE CONVERT(BAPTIZED)...DRAGON SLAYED...KING BUILDS CHURCH I…
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SOLOMON AND SHEBA EMBRACE
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ETHIOPIA
QES ADAMU TESFAW
CIRCA 1980-95
PAINT ON CLOTH
QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITS KING SOLOMON AND REFUSES TO SLEEP WITH HIM-KING SOLOMON TRICKS HER "I WILL RESPECT YOUR WISHES AS LONG AS YOU DON'T TAKE ANYTHING OF MINE THAT I DO NOT GIVE TO YOU"...FEEDS HER SPICY FOOD AND SHE NEEDS WATE…
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TABOT
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ETHIOPIA
UNKNOWN ARTIST
20TH
WOOD,STONE
KEPT IN TENT OVER NIGHT DURING HEIGHT OF TIMKAT(ETHIOPIAN CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM)/ARK REPRESENTED IN EVERY ETHIOPIAN CHURCH WITH A TABOT/STONE TABLET BELIEVED TO BE PLAVED INSIDE THIS WOODEN CREST/PORTABLE ALTAR CARVED WITH CROSSES-DESIGNS-INS…
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HAILE SELASSIE'S VISIT TO JAMAICA
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ETHIOPIA
QES ADAMU TESFAW
2003
PAINT ON CLOTH
HAILE GOES TO JAMAICA-PEOPLE BELIEVE HE IS THE REINCARNATE OF GOD..HE REJECTS THIS IDEA
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HAND HELD CROSS
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FALASHA
ETHIOPIA
20TH
BRASS,CLOTH
ETHIOPIAN CHRISTIANITY SYMBOL/NO JESUS PRESENT/METAL+LONG STRIP OF CLOTH/GREEK-STYLE PROCESSIONAL CROSS
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LALIBELA CROSS
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FALASHA
ETHIOPIA
20TH
BRASS
LATIN CROSS WITH CARVED TOP/WINGS PRESENT=WINGS THAT KEEP GOD'S THRONE ALOFT IN HEAVEN
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"GREAT ZIMBABWE"
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PROTO-SHONA,ZIMBABWE
13TH-15TH
GRANITE,SOAPSTONE,CLAY
OUTER STRUCTURE=NO MORTAR/MONOMOTAPA EMPIRE/ENCIRCLED BY STONE WALL/LARGEST SINGLE ANCIENT STRUCTURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AF./CONICAL TOWER=REP POWER/GRANITE FROM LOCAL MTS. AND THATCHED ROOFING/EASTERN OUTER WALL=DECORATED WITH DOUBLE …
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GREAT ZIMBABWE MONOLITH
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PROTO-SHONA,ZIMBABWE
13TH-15TH
SOAPSTONE
MAY BE: CLAN TOTEMS/TO HARNESS OR DEFLECT LIGHTENING/REP ANCESTORS...8 LARGE SOAPSTONE BIRDS: CARVED AS FINIALS OF TALL MONOLITHS...INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN MWARI+HUMANS...HOOKED BEAK=EAGLE (AKA CHAPUNGU) OR HAWK....FISH EAGLE=HUNGWE, SHONA MESSEN…
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WHY DID I SIGN THE CONTRACT?
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DRC
CHERI SAMBA
1990
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS
IMAGES AND TEXT=SAMBA'S SIGNITURE-MAKES PEOPLE STOP AND THINK-EDUCATIONAL ART(SATIRE-HUNGER-IRONY)/PROBLEMS AND ISSUES ASSOC. WITH SIGNING HIS CONTRACT...DIASPORA ARTISTS CONCEPT
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COINS ON GRANDMA'S CLOTH
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GHANA BORN, NIGERIA WORKS/LIVES
EL ANATSUI
1993
PYRO-ETCHED WOOD
USED LOCAL MATERIALS/AFRICAN TREASURES SOLD OFF FOR A FEW COINS/SAME SEEN IN CONTEMPORARY ART
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SCULPTURAL INSTALLATION AT THE VENICE BIENNALE
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GHANA BORN,NIGERIAWORKS AND LIVES
EL ANATSUI
2007
METAL BOTTLE CAPS,COPPER WIRE
TEARING AND BREAKING=SYMBOLIC OD VIOLENCE TO AFRICANS AND THEIR CULTURE IN HISTORY
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FUTURE
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GHANA
KWESI OWUSU-ANKROMAH
2006
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS
SANKOFO FUTURE MOTIF
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MR. AND MRS. ANDREWS WITHOUT THEIR HEADS
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LONDON(NIGERIA)
YINKA SHONIBARE
1988
INSTALLATION:FACTORY-PRINTED RESIST-DYED CLOTH
BASED ON THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH'S PAINTING(SHOWING MR. AND MRS. ANDREW'S LAND WEALTH)...WHO WORKED THE LAND? YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BEAUTIFUL LAND WEALTH WITHOUT HORRIFIC SLAVERY...
NO LAND/ABSENCE OF LAN…
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UNTITLED+MYSTRENGTH LIES
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KENYA(NY, USA)
WANGECHI MUTU
UNTITLED=2003 MY STRENGTH LIES=2006
MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE ON MYLAR
MEANT FOR VIEWER TO SPEND MORE TIME ENGAGING WITH COLLAGE/HIGH HEELS=SUFFER FOR BEAUTY-EMPOWERMENT/ANIMISTIC IMAGERY/FEAR OF BLACK FEMALE/VIOLENCE/BEAUTY/DISGUST/AFRICAN STEREOTYPES IN WEST…
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MEDIUM PRIEST WITH SACRED EAGLE
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ZIMBABWE
JORAM MARIGA
C. 1970
SERPENTINE
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WATER BUFFALO
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TENGENENGE, ZIMBABWE
HENRY MUNYARADZI
C. 1990S
SERPENTINE
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HA 101: EXAM 3