Readings & Assignments

Course Outline: Weekly Schedule for Art & Architecture of Africa

The Art & Architecture of Africa course is designed to be an historical study of the plastic arts and traditional architecture produced by the indigenous African societies from ancient Egypt down the Nile Valley to Central, Eastern, and Southern African regions. The course also includes a broad overview of contemporary art practices across the continent that draws of traditional styles and symbolism.

Week 1: The Creative Human Spirit in Early African Societies: San Rock Art (Pictographs & Petroglyphs) from Southern Africa

2,400-year-old cave paintings and engravings produced by ancestors of San people record Shamanism, spiritual symbols, and everyday lifestyle.

  1. Required: You can also watch Professor Gates PBS documentary here that talks about the continent’s creative spirit found in art and architecture. Gates narrates the story of human civilization, from the origin of man, the formation of early human societies and the creation of art and other cultural achievements.
  2. There’s a great PBS interview here with Gates that sets up the documentary. Pay attention to cave or rock paintings in the Sahara (Tassili n’Ajjar in Algeria) and in Southern Africa (Blombos cave in South Africa, as well as Christian painting in Ethiopia, Pyramids in Egypt, and terracotta figures of the Nok, Yoruba and Benin peoples).
  3. On Wikipedia, read about locations of the Sahara rock art and San rock painting. Pay attention to the symbols and metaphors of these paintings, history and lifestyles of these animal and human figures.
  4. Assignment: Professor Henry Louis Gates’ documentary on Africa’s Great Civilizations and read notes on Blackboard. Go to here to symbolic San rock art, which has spiritual meaning, and here, which shows religious art, in South Africa. In your review, write a half-page summary of what they say about rock art.

Week 2: Classical Aesthetics of Nile Valley: Egyptian art and architecture

Ancient Egyptian art reflected the rigidity and hierarchical nature of a society that prioritized opulence and grandeur, and above all was obsessed with death and afterlife. Learn about the pre-dynastic and dynastic styles of art.

  1. Required: Read on Wikipedia here the art of ancient Egypt, which dates back to between 5,000 B. C. and 2, 000 B.C., starting with the Palette of King Narmer, the first pharaoh. Look at his depiction in profile, head, arms, legs, and outward chest. While figures rendered with precision had the effect of naturalism, their art also full of meaning. Symbolism is pronounced in animal figures from Abydos and Saqqara, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, art of the Kings, and art of the Deities.
  2. I particularly want you to highlight Nebamun, the great ancient painter, especially his masterpiece, the dancing scene.
  3. Assignment: Please watch Goodbye-Art Academy video here for the ancient Egyptian art history that compares their symbolism to Renaissance art. Write a half a page review of the presentation, especially the relevance of their style to contemporary art and architecture.

Week 3: Nubian Art and architecture

Façade of building carved with monumental relief. Symbolic art prevails. Wall paintings are geometric patterns. In the north male artists carved low reliefs on interior courtyard walls; in the south women painted courtyard walls with delicate polychrome patterns similar to textile and jewelry

  1. Required: Nubians were neighbors of the Egyptians upon whose shadows they have been studied. The Nubian art is enchanting, rich in royalty jewelry and sculpture and pyramid.
  2. At the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, 3,000-years of sophisticated Nubian artifacts give an early view of culture and politics of this ancient civilization, from the ceramics of Karma, to spectacular jewelry or the King Pianky, to the sculptures of the capital Meroe. But they left no writing, so we rely on the writing of the Egyptians. So Nubian art and architecture are often studied alongside Egypt, but they are good on their own, as seen here in the Coursera course at Emory University’s art museum. Forms are arranged in symmetry. Males portrayed in simplified style; Queens in full figure.
  3. Assignment: Students should go to YouTube and review videos on Nubian art history. Also, identify 5 pictures on the art styles from Egypt and Nubia, citing similarities and differences.

Week 4: Ethiopian art and architecture

Churches are geometric, with carved lines on the roof, replicas of Axumite palaces in pre-dynastic period, and showing the influence of traditional architecture and philosophy.

  1. Read in the “Addis Herald” about the early domestic architecture here that was inspired by Arabian mudbrick, multistory palaces.
  2. Required: Watch the Gondar art and architectural style that flourished during the rule of King Facilidad. Paintings, including tempera, are symbolic, emphasizing Christian icons in bright colors, direct gaze, saints delineated by dark lines.
  3. Required: Watch on YouTube here King Lalibela’s rock-hewed churches that show geometric designs that were built during Zagwe dynasty (11-13th century); the monumental architectures by stone carvers are like the Cathedrals of Europe; monolithic masterpieces that attest to Ethiopian Christian heritage.
  4. Also, watch here at the Black Madonna and her child and procession crosses shown on PBS antique show. They attest to the early church paintings and sculptures. Early church paintings. Painting by Alexander Boghossian and Julie Mehretu.
  5. Assignment: In half a page, students should review Gates’ documentary on Lalibela churches, making particular comments on their geometric styles.

Week 5: Architectures of the Great Zimbabwe and Coastal Swahili towns

The 60-acre stone monuments attest to a sophisticated architectural development with towers and walls that express power.

  1. Read in the Ancient history magazine here about the structure of the stone town of the Shona people, their small sculptures and history of trade in gold and beads with Asia.
  2. Required: On Smart History, watch the ancient monuments here, attesting a unique early civilization south of the Sahara. Its mystery is uncovered by a BBC documentary that connects Swahili Coast to the Great Zimbabwe. Pay attention to the significance of trade in gold, the bird symbol, the structure of the royal palace, and Shona contemporary sculptures.
  3. On Swahili art and architecture, read here at the University of Iowa art museum that says their art forms are limited to architecture, furniture and personal adornment.
  4. On YouTube, watch Joe Rohdes’s travel video about the culture and architecture of the Swahili people in East African Coast. Swahilis are known for curved wooden doors, and their history is tied to the ancient Indian Ocean trade.
  5. On this CNN video, watch how Swahili carvers chisel designs into their houses.
  6. Assignment: Students are to review videos for clues about art techniques and symbolism.

Week 7: Cultural Art of the Tropical Central Africa: Grassland artistic traditions of Abstraction and Color

Aside from their role in the realm of material culture and symbolism, the nkisi and other fetish power figures of the Kongo, Kuba and Luba that mitigate spirits aim to regulate social behavior, and thus provide meaningful order to traditional African societies comparable to justice system of the modern world. Stylistically, pattern, rhythm and luminosity are key to their aesthetics.

  1. Watch a VOA report of an exhibition here of weaving abstraction at the Textile Museum in Washington DC. The Kuba are known for their elaborate decorative patterns in textile and interior designs, plainly woven from raffia fiber.
  2. Required: And here on Vimeo, watch another exhibition of the Kuba textile designs. Pay attention to grid organization, plain weave fabric, and geometric patterns. These appliques and embroidery were status symbols among the Kuba, as were ornamental belts and cowrie shells and beads. The Kuba have elaborate geometric designs both in art and architecture.
  3. Contemporary art: In 2018, MOMA organized an exhibition on the maquettes or architectural models by Congolese sculptor Bodys Kingelez. You can read here about his dreams and fantastical world, and you can also watch an interview with Sara Suzuki who curated the exhibition.

Week 8: Political Art: Royal Art of Traditional Central African Societies

One of the key functions of art is in service of politics. Chokwe people are famous for art that celebrate the royal court, while Pende people are known for their ritual masks, carved wooden stools and staff that symbolize power.

  1. On traditional art, the University of Iowa’s art museum website here is worth reading for the art and life of both Pende and Chokwe that are linked to show political power.
  2. Required: Smart History has a video worth watching about a Chokwe mask for a male dancer and its symbolism.
  3. Read about these contemporary artists from Africa and see how some of them draw from their traditions and cultures.
  4. Midterm Exams: Identify 5 images (architectural and art) and write an essay about the subject matter or symbolism and elements of style. Use vocabulary and terminologies from the readings. Finally, write two 200-word essays on topics covered in weeks one through seven. Your midterm answers must be submitted in the discussion forum.

Week 9: Transition: African Art and Modernism

Shamanism, power figures, and enduring influences on modernism and postmodernism

  1. For traditional art, read about the Bakongo here and
  2. Punu here in the website of the University of Iowa art museum.
  3. For contemporary art, see: Joseph-Francis Sumegne, Ben Enwonwu here on the New York Times.
  4. Also, see this article, and this article and this story on BBC article.
  5. Students are to prepare presentations on Sumegne and Enwonwu.

Week 10: Crisis of Confidence in Contemporary Art and Architecture

This part of the course is all about student-led discussions. For the rest of the semester, you will be given an artist to research, critique and present their artwork in power-point slides and videos before the final exams. Below are some of the artists to consider:

  1. You can read about Cheri Samba, Congolese painter, and
  2. Then read about Sokari Douglas Camp, Nigerian sculptor.
  3. The Ghanaian architect David Adjaye talks here on Vimeo about his journey through African cities to understand the continent a fresh.
  4. Also, read more about Adjaye’s work here, and his search for patterns.
  5. Finally, watch Khan Academy’s explanation of masks while Vimeo also has a video on masks here here.

Week 11: Atmosphere Art: Textile Design and Land sculpture

The Bakota geometric style in art and architecture, and Dineo Sheshee Bopape’s land sculpture is an exploration of ecology, human psyche and physiology.

  1. For traditional art, read about the art of Bakota here and
  2. Fang here on the website of the University of Iowa art museum.
  3. For contemporary art, read and watch about William Kentridge’s art here, and
  4. Dineo Sheshe Bopape’s land sculpture here.
  5. Students should use these as templates for their research, and so they should make presentations about William Kentridge and Dineo Sheshee Bopape this week.

Week 12: Art as Liberty, Individualism, Feminism, Futurism

Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu engages in a critique of gender and racial politics that probes human experiences, while sculptor Anatsui appropriates found materials into monumental assemblages that give new meaning to material history.

  1. For traditional art, read about the art of the Baluba here, and Bakuba here.
  2. For contemporary art, see Wangechi Mutu’s art here; and
  3. El Anatsui’s art here, and here, and here.
  4. Students are to prepare presentations on Mutu and Anatsui.

Week 13: Mythical Realism, Surrealism

Exploring the folklore and its influence on contemporary art: Nigerian artist Onobrakpeye draws from the cultural environment of traditional African society to enliven his artworks.

  1. Traditional art, read about the Akan art and architecture here, while
  2. modern and contemporary art is represented here by the artist Bruce Onobrakpeya.
  3. From Ethiopia, see Julie Mehretu’s work, and here at the Marian Goodman Gallery.
  4. Prepare presentations on Bruce and Julie.

Week 14: Public Art and Monuments

Some works shape experiences and stir emotion. Marco Cianfanelli’s sculptures interrogate the human form and psyche, while Ibrahim el Salahi’s paintings capture the freedom of the human spirit discerned in the fleeting moments when memory and dreams collide.

  1. Continuing with modern and contemporary art on the University of Iowa’s art museum website, read about Makonde sculpture here featuring interlocking human and animal figures that exemplify family ties, which is why it is called “tree of life”.
  2. On Wikipedia, see Marco Cianfanelli’s monumental works here showing his love for South Africa and its icons such as Nelson Mandela, who is represented in “Release” here, a roadside memorial sculpture.
  3. Also, read on Tate museum’s website about Sudanese artist Ibrahim el Salahi’s “Vision of the Tomb” (1965), part of his modernist painting that won him international recognition. His colorful “The Tree” (2003) references the Islamic imagery that uses geometric shapes to represent world order.

Week 14: Review

The class will review topics covered during the previous 14 weeks and listen to the remaining presentations on the following artists.

  1. Watch Tracey Rose’s shock performative art that’s as feminist as it is political on Documenta 14,
  2. Mary Sibande’s biographical painting is reported on CNN and at the Amory Show, wi
  3. You can also read about Sibande’s personal experiences as a black woman, the daughter of a poor domestic worker on Wikipedia here.
  4. Finally, watch Sophie, Sibande’s fictional alter-ego, who wears a housekeeper’s uniform, with a crisp white apron and bonnet, the clothing which in her pictorial narrative her own mother, grandmother and great-grandmother all would have worn, and been defined by, in their roles as domestic workers during apartheid South Africa.

Week 15: Final Exams

Exams posted on Blackboard discussion forum.