Object Notes

This sculpture is attributed to Arowogun, a celebrated master sculptor who was a contemporary of Olowe of Ise. Embellished bowls like this one were owned by rulers, successful ritual specialists, and prosperous families who could afford to commission artists like Arowogun to carve for them.

This figure probably dates from the late 19th century to the early decades of the 20th century, a period of unprecedented missionary activity in Africa with most Christian denominations participating. After the Atlantic slave trade ended and legitimate trade replaced it in the 19th century, European missionary work was resumed in the context of colonization.

The Portuguese introduced tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum and Nicotiana rustica) to West Africa in the 17th century after they discovered it in the Americas.

This Mangbetu vessel depicts a woman with an elongated head (the result of binding the forehead at infancy) wearing a classic, fanlike coiffure that identifies her as royal.

"Kasai velvets," as Kuba cut-pile and embroidered textiles were known when first introduced to foreign markets at the turn of the 20th century, are so described because they feel like velvet.

Pende men and women wear miniature replicas of the masks (sing. gikhokho, pl. ikhokho) used in village masquerades and healing rituals. They wore the pendants as jewelry, suspended around their necks from cords or strings of beads.

Ndebele women wear curved goatskin capes adorned with a wide rectangular strip of beadwork on ceremonial occasions.

Elaborately embroidered and voluminous men's robes made of handwoven strips of cotton are distributed widely throughout Cameroon and Nigeria.

The Portuguese introduced tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum and Nicotiana rustica) to West Africa in the 17th century after they discovered it in the Americas.

Heavy castings like this one were used as currency in West Africa prior to the introduction of coinage.