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artist, Yoruba. “Yoruba Artist: Ceremonial Sword and Sheath (Udamalore): Yoruba.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/316825. Accessed 30 July 2023.

Drewal, Henry  John. BEADS, BODY, AND SOUL Art and Light in the Yoriiba Universe. UCLA James S. Coleman African Studies Center, 2011.

Klemm, Dr. Peri, and Dr. Peri Klemm. “Akua’ba Female Figure (Akan Peoples).” Smarthistory, smarthistory.org/akuaba-female-figure-akan-peoples/. Accessed 30 July 2023.

Laciste, Dr. Kristen, and Dr. Kristen Laciste. “Asafo Flags.” Smarthistory, smarthistory.org/asafo-flags/. Accessed 30 July 2023.

Micots, Dr. Courtnay, and Dr. Courtnay Micots. “Kente Cloth.” Smarthistory, smarthistory.org/kente-cloth/. Accessed 30 July 2023.

Nigerian, Olowe of Ise. “Olowe of Ise: Veranda Post: Equestrian Figure and Female Caryatid.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/317823. Accessed 30 July 2023.

“Pair of Twin Figures (Ère Ìbejì).” Brooklyn Museum, www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/194078. Accessed 30 July 2023.

“Sande Society Mask (Sowei).” Brooklyn Museum, www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/4831. Accessed 30 July 2023.

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A cultural art piece is more than just paint on paper. A cultural sculpture is more than just chipped wood in the form of a figure. This statement is imperative when it comes to African Art and the cultural background that comes with it. Although art displayed in fancy clean glass cases, in echoing rooms with bright lighting, is common in the twenty-first century, most African Art was not meant for the modern museum. In fact, most African Art is best appreciated where it was made because of its strong cultural significance. There is a stronger meaning to African art rather than just being something pretty to look at. “The Culture of Respect: The importance of symbolism and context in respecting African Art and African Art history / culture” (sponsored by NMAA: National Museum of African Art) is an art exhibit and cultural art appreciation event that takes a deep dive into the true origin and story of Art African Culture while also creating an inviting environment for anyone to admire the beauty of African art. Most African art is most appreciated when one learns about the reason it was made and how it was used during its period. A lot of African art sculptures, figures, poles, flags, cloths, wooden carvings, etc. were used for special occasions, politics, ceremonies, alliances, spiritual elements, etc. This along with the different spiritual, sacred and cultural symbolism that different African Art artifacts represent is a vast unknown world to most people who pass by African artifacts without taking time to learn about them and what makes them unique. African Art in itself is colorful, unique and beautiful. African Art has a big story to tell and it is important for everyone to understand its true meaning, especially in a world full of art and renovation. Many people may not be aware of how to properly appreciate and respect African Art. This exhibit aims to provide the context needed to understand the meaning behind African art. African art created a space of connection, unity, culture and support. If one desires to truly study and learn about African Art, it is imperative that one pays attention not only to the small details in African art and the materials it is made with, but also the reason it was created in the first place and how it was applied to African society. By providing context and a meaning to the artifacts, the exhibit hopes that one takes away a better understanding as well as respect for African culture and art.

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The masks were worn above the head of a dancer and the rest of the dancers body was hidden by blackened raffia fibers and cloth. During the performance the mask is regarded not as a spirit when it is not performing and was housed in an elderly woman's home.

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Some of the flags would be unraveled by a man and danced with.
(A video would play in the musuem)

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Kente is more than just a cloth. Kente is a visual representation of West African ethics, history, religious beliefs, philosophy, politics and social value.
Today, Kente cloth is used for special occasions.

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Veranda Post Sculptures on a Palace Porch.

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Veranda Post Sculptures on a Palace Porch.

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One would most likely find the twin figures placed in a shrine or in the mothers room. They would be treated and taken care of like if they were a real baby.

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According to a Akan myth, Akua was a woman who couldn't conceive and went to a diviner to ask for help. The diviner told her to carve a baby doll and care for it as if it were alive; after she did this she conceived.
The Akua'ba figure was used as fertility aid for women. The AKua’ba figure depicts an idealized woman and not a child because this is the stage every mother wishes their child to grow up to.

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This sculpture represents the cultures concept of an ideal social unit or Nommo pairs. They were originally placed in a shrine in the Dogon village. The sculpture is also a representation of front and back speech.

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Wooden helmet mask of a human head with an enlarged neck with rolls of fat. These masks were worn on the top of someones head. These masks were unique because they were used in the only masquerade where women would were the masks. The masks were made by men and used to help girls through initiation.

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Asafo flags served as representations of military alliances, for flagging familial identity, annual festivals and other occasions. They were used as symbols of military companies. Most of the flags had images that would tell a story of history or important messages.
The meaning of this flag is to be vigilant and careful when one trades with someone because one doesn't know what the other has behind their back. In the flag, the woman comes in peace with her arms open wide wanting to trade and a man stands with objects in his hand also wanting to trade. But what the man does not see is the snake behind the woman.

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Artist: Yoruba Artist late 19th-early 20th century 12 × 3 × 5 in. (30.5 × 7.6 × 12.7 cm)

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These twin figures were used by the Yoruba for the spirits of deceased twins. The Yoruba had one of the highest twinning ratios of the world during this time. When a mother would loose a twin, there were some cases were a carver was called to make one of these figures for the mother to keep to represent the spirit of the child. The figures themselves however, were not made to look like a baby or a child and rather made to look like what is considered "the prime of life" which can be closed to early young adult age.

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Asante kente cloth, 20th century, silk and cotton 

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Asante kente cloth, 20th century, silk and cotton 

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The history of Kente Cloth has an interesting origin legend. It is said that two young men learned how to weave by observing a spider weaving its web. The cloth was adopted by the Asantehene (The title of the Asante Monarch) and was then used for special occasions.

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Yoruba Artist 19th–20th century H. 27 3/4 × W. 19 7/8 × D. 3 3/4 in. Medium: Cotton, glass beads, wood, brass bells, rope, metal

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Ceremonial sword (Uddmalore) and sheath (ewu). Owo-Yoruba, Nigeria.

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Ceremonial sword (Uddmalore) and sheath (ewu). Owo-Yoruba, Nigeria.

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This ceremonial sword, the sheath and the matching lozenge-shaped panels are a recall of the the chiefly distinctive clothing for formal occasions illustrated on Benin brass plaques of 16th and 17th centuries. This ceremonial sword was worn on the left hip above the panels by the Owo chiefs.

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Kente cloth was made to be worn, according to the Asantehene, by the Ewe people who were under the rule of the Asante. Its believed that the Ewe adopted the style of kente cloth production from the Asante, but still included some of their own weaving traditions and other differences.

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Veranda Post: Equestrian Figure and Female Caryatid

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Veranda Post: Equestrian Figure and Female Caryatid

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This Post was one of the many wooden posts that were crafted to be among the structural posts of a palace porch.
The piece shows a mounted warrior or king sitting on a horse with a female figures at the bottom. The spear the male figure holds represents power and the pistol represents modernism. The female figure at the bottom represents support. The sculpture is a representations of the Warrior Kings power as well as his source of power.

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The Golden Stool is of high importance to the Asante People. The legend of how a Golden stool fell from the sky and landed on the first king of the united Asante confederacy, Osei Tutu gave it its strong sacredness. It was believed that a stool can take up the entire essence of an individual. The stool was considered more important than any king of the Asante people and is considered the soul of the Asante Nation.