African AestheticsBeauty defined-

Manifestations of beauty: outer and innerThe useful, the functional, the complete, the appropriate

The Head– outer and innerHouses the vital sense organs

Site of personalitycenter of spirituality

Shrine, being, destiny

Group of stylized abstract heads representing, inner spiritual head--site of personalityYoruba, (Ita Yemoo, Ife) Nigeria, terracotta, h. 13 cm(5 in); 19 cm(7.1/2 in); 16.5 cm (61/2 in) 16 cm (6 3/8 in)

Aesthetic parameters:Clarity

Ephebism-youthfulnessCompleteness

Shining smoothnessSocial and emotional proportion

Polyrhythmic compositionsArt as metaphor

Ibeji twin memorial figure,Yoruba, NigeriaWood, 20th cent.(Yiyo) relative clarity, completeness, and visibility

Lajuwa, royal usurperTerra-cotta,Ife, Yoruba, 12/15th cent.(odo) Ephebism: relative youthfulness

Ooni,Leaded brass,Appr.18.in.Ife, Yoruba, 14/15th cent.(Pipe) completeness & emotional proportion

Head of a Queen,Ife, (Yoruba), NigeriaTerracotta,12th-13th Century800-700 BP (Before the Present)

Bronze Plaque,Appr.21.in.Benin, Nigeria, 17th cent.Aesthetics of social proportions

Sango Shrine Sculptures,Yoruba, NigeriaWood, 20th cent.-aesthetics of social proportion

Sowei mask,Mande, Sierra LeoneWood, 20th cent.Aesthetics of shining smoothness

Woman wearing silver jewelryHarar, Somalia

Fulani Woman in a market,Mopti, Mali, 1970

Fulani women at a ceremonyCelebrating masculine beauty and charm,Niger Republic, 1980

Balangandans, silver and gold pendantsWorn by Afro-Brazilians since at least the Early 19th century. Detail from a paintingBy Jean Baptiste Debret done in BrazilIn the 1820s

Kente, hand-woven fabric, Ghana, 20th. Cent, aesthetics of polyrhythms

Adire, dyed cotton, Yoruba, SW Nigeria, 20th cent. polyrhythmic composition

Linguist staff,Wood, gold leaf, 20th Cent.Metaphor of leadership

Fon Flag, Applique, Democratic Republic of Benin, 20th century

Royal Umbrella, Fon Applique, cotton, D.R. Benin, 20th century.

Egungun masquerade, sequined applique, cotton, Yoruba Southwestern Nigeria, 20th century.

conclusion