#AP Art History: Africa - The Night Before 🚀

Hey! Let's get you feeling confident for tomorrow. This guide is designed to be your quick, high-impact review. We'll hit the key points, make connections, and get you ready to rock this exam! 💪

#🌍 Unit 3: Africa - Key Themes & Concepts

#Power and Authority

• #Royal Iconography: Many African artworks emphasize the power and status of rulers.

- Example: The **Wall Plaque from Oba's Palace** uses hierarchy of scale to show the king's importance. - **Divine Kingship:** Rulers are often seen as having a divine connection or mandate. - Example: The **Ndop** figure embodies the king's spiritual and political authority. - **Ritual and Ceremony:** Artworks are often used in ceremonies to reinforce social structures and power dynamics. - Example: The **Aka Elephant Mask** is worn during important ceremonies by members of high society.

#Ancestral Veneration & Spirituality

• Ancestor Figures: Many cultures create figures to honor and connect with ancestors.
  • Example: The Female (Pwo) Mask honors female ancestors in Chokwe society.
• Spirit Vessels: Some artworks are believed to house spirits that can be called upon for assistance.
  • Example: The Power Figure (Nkisi n’kondi) is used to hold spirits and is activated through the insertion of nails.
• Masks in Ritual: Masks are often used in rituals to transform the wearer and connect with the spiritual realm.
  • Example: The Bundu Mask is used during initiation ceremonies to celebrate young girls' adulthood.

#Cultural Identity & Community

• Community Participation: Many artworks are created and used by the community as a whole.
  • Example: The Great Mosque of Djenné requires annual maintenance by the community, reinforcing social cohesion.
• Cultural Symbols: Artworks often contain symbols that are specific to a particular culture or group.
  • Example: The Sika Dwa Kofi (Golden Stool) is a sacred symbol of the Ashanti people and is believed to contain the soul of the nation.
• Oral Tradition: Some artworks, like the Lukasa (Memory Board), are used to preserve and transmit oral histories.

#🏛️ Specific Works: Detailed Review

# Conical Tower and Circular Wall of Great Zimbabwe

• Form: Coursed granite blocks
• Function: Royal complex and trading center
• Content: 32-foot tall fortress with sloped sides
• Context: Symbol of wealth and power, resembling a granary for prosperity. "Zimbabwe" means "houses of stone," making it unique in African architecture.

# Great Mosque of Djenné

• Form: Adobe
• Function: Mosque for Muslim prayer and worship
• Content: Mihrab (direction of Mecca), torons (wooden beams for maintenance), minarets with ostrich eggs (purity/fertility), hypostyle hall (community prayer).
• Context: Requires annual maintenance (Crépissage de La Grand Mosque), reinforcing community bonds. One of the five pillars of Islam requires Muslims to pray 5 times a day facing Mecca.

# Wall Plaque, from Oba’s Palace

• Form: Cast brass
• Function: Palace decoration showcasing the Oba's power and wealth
• Content: Hierarchy of scale, king with attendants
• Context: Edo peoples of Benin (Nigeria). Brass shows trade networks, especially with the Portuguese.

# Sika Dwa Kofi (Golden Stool)

• Form: Gold over wood
• Function: Sacred symbol of the Ashanti people, containing the soul of the nation. Used in crowning ceremonies.
• Content: Bells to warn the king of danger
• Context: Never touches the ground, rests on its own throne. Only the king can touch it. Stools are culturally significant to the Ashanti nation (parts of own's souls are believed to reside in stool).

# Ndop (Portrait Figure) of King Mishe miShyaang maMbul

• Form: Wood
• Function: Commemorate the king and his accomplishments
• Content: Non-idealized sculpture, royal regalia, crossed legs, large head, calm face.
• Context: Kept in a shrine, oils added for shine and protection. Motifs on the drum identify the king.

# Power Figure (Nkisi n’kondi )

• Form: Wood and metal
• Function: Hold spirits that can be called upon for assistance
• Content: Human figure, alert pose, nails pounded throughout.
• Context: Nkisi (spirit) contained within. Nails inserted to call upon the spirit, especially for serious affairs.

# Female (Pwo) Mask

• Form: Wood, fiber, pigment, and metal
• Function: Worn by men depicting women in ritual dances
• Content: Closed eyes, enlarged sockets, slender nose, braided fiber hair.
• Context: Chokwe peoples (matrilineal society), honors female ancestors. Facial features represent ideal woman: wisdom (closed eyes), intelligence (large forehead), spiritual connection (white around eyes).

# Portrait Mask (Mblo)

• Form: Wood and pigment
• Function: Worn at ritual dances to honor an individual
• Content: Arched eyebrows, broad forehead, heavy-lidded eyes, slender nose, small mouth, elaborate coiffure, elongated face.
• Context: Baule peoples of Côte d'Ivoire. Idealized version of the individual, representing modesty, wisdom, and morality.

# Bundu Mask

• Form: Wood, cloth, and fiber
• Function: Worn by Sande society elders during initiation ceremonies for young girls
• Content: Small eyes, small ears, small mouth, smooth forehead, elaborate hairstyle, rings around neck.
• Context: Portrays the ideal Mende woman: avoiding gossip (small eyes/ears), wealth (hair), wisdom (forehead), pregnancy (neck rings).

# Ikenga (Shrine Figure)

• Form: Wood
• Function: Commissioned by men for their homes as a symbol of achievements
• Content: "Strong right arm," tool in hand, ram horns (power/strength).
• Context: Honors masculine attributes.

# Lukasa (Memory Board)

• Form: Wood, beads, and metal
• Function: Help remember key elements of a story
• Content: Carved wood with beads/shells, each representing a story element. Zoomorphic elements.
• Context: Used by historians in Mbudye society. Each board is unique to the story.

# Aka Elephant Mask

• Form: Wood, woven raffia, cloth, and beads
• Function: Worn by members of high society (Kuosi) during important ceremonies
• Content: Anthropomorphic figure, human face with elephant features (trunk/ears).
• Context: Bamileke people. Beads and elephant features signify wealth and prestige.

# Reliquary Figure (Byeri)

• Form: Wood
• Function: Placed on reliquaries to guard against bad spirits
• Content: Hands folded in prayer, prominent belly button, elongated body.
• Context: Oiled for shine and protection. Portable due to the nomadic nature of the Fang people.

# Veranda Post of Enthroned King and Senior Wife (Opo Ogoga)

• Form: Wood and pigment
• Function: Decoration for the king's palace and support for a veranda
• Content: Senior wife crowns the king (hierarchy of scale), junior wife and Eshu (trickster god) are also present.
• Context: Carved by Olowe of Ise. The senior wife's size shows her importance as a supporter of the king. (Cross-cultural connection with King Menkaura and Queen in Unit 2 🧠)

#🎯 Final Exam Focus

#High-Priority Topics

• Power and Authority: How rulers are represented and how art reinforces their status.
• Spiritual Beliefs: The role of ancestors, spirits, and rituals in African art.
• Community and Identity: How art reflects and reinforces cultural values and social structures.
• Masks: Understand the different types of masks, their purposes, and their cultural contexts.
• Materials and Techniques: Be familiar with the materials used (wood, brass, gold, adobe) and their significance.

#

• Multiple Choice: Expect questions that test your knowledge of specific artworks, their functions, and their cultural contexts.
• Short Answer Questions (SAQs): Focus on analyzing the formal elements, functions, and contexts of artworks. Be concise and specific.
• Free Response Questions (FRQs): Practice writing essays that compare and contrast artworks, discuss thematic connections, and analyze the cultural significance of art.

#

• Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. If you're stuck, move on and come back later.
• Context is Key: Always consider the cultural, historical, and social contexts of the artworks you're discussing.
• Use Specific Vocabulary: Use art historical terms correctly (e.g., hierarchy of scale, anthropomorphic, matrilineal).
• Connect the Dots: Look for connections between different artworks and themes across the units. This will help you in both FRQs and SAQs.
• Stay Calm: You know more than you think you do! Take a deep breath and trust your preparation. 🧘

#📝 Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following artworks is primarily associated with the commemoration of a ruler and his achievements? (A) Female (Pwo) Mask (B) Power Figure (Nkisi n’kondi) (C) Ndop (Portrait Figure) of King Mishe miShyaang maMbul (D) Aka Elephant Mask

2. The use of hierarchy of scale in the Wall Plaque from Oba's Palace is primarily intended to: (A) Illustrate the daily life of the Edo people (B) Emphasize the spiritual beliefs of the Benin kingdom (C) Showcase the king's power and importance (D) Depict the trade networks established with the Portuguese

3. Which artwork is NOT primarily used for spiritual or ritual purposes? (A) Bundu Mask (B) Reliquary Figure (Byeri) (C) Ikenga (Shrine Figure) (D) Great Mosque of Djenné

#Free Response Question

Compare and contrast the Wall Plaque from Oba's Palace and the Veranda Post of Enthroned King and Senior Wife (Opo Ogoga) in terms of their function, content, and cultural context. How do these artworks reflect the power structures and social hierarchies of their respective cultures?

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear and defensible thesis statement that addresses the comparison and contrast of the two artworks in terms of function, content, and cultural context.
• Analysis of Wall Plaque (2 points):
  • Function: Decoration of the Oba's palace, showcasing his power and wealth.
  • Content: Hierarchy of scale, king with attendants. Brass material shows trade network.
  • Cultural Context: Edo peoples of Benin, Nigeria. Demonstrates royal power and trade networks.
• Analysis of Veranda Post (2 points):
  • Function: Decoration of the king's palace, support for a veranda.
  • Content: Senior wife crowns the king, hierarchy of scale (wife larger), junior wife and Eshu also present.
  • Cultural Context: Yoruba peoples. Highlights the importance of the senior wife and the royal court.
• Comparison and Contrast (2 points):
  • Both: Depict royal figures, use hierarchy of scale, function as palace decoration.
  • Contrast: Wall Plaque emphasizes the king's power, while Veranda Post highlights the importance of the senior wife. Different materials (brass vs. wood).
• Conclusion (1 point): A concluding statement that summarizes the main points and provides a final insight into the power structures and social hierarchies reflected in the artworks.

#Short Answer Question

Explain the function of the Lukasa (Memory Board) and how it reflects the cultural values of the Mbudye society.

You've got this! Go get 'em! 🌟