African Gallery @ the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Africa. What images does this word bring to mind? In fact, the size and diversity of the African continent are striking. More than three times the size of the United States, Africa is made up of over 50 countries [Quiz Clue!] and about 1,000 languages. There are deserts and rainforests, but also mountains, woodlands, savannas, and grasslands. Today, the African continent includes a vast spectrum of social and political institutions and cultural systems. Lifestyles are equally diverse and include that of the subsistence farmer; the urban shopkeeper; market woman, or businessperson; the hunter-gatherer; as well as the nomadic herder or itinerant worker. The world's history owes much to Africa. It is known as the "Cradle of Humankind," the birthplace of human biological and cultural development. Parts of Africa are also known to have been central to early world trade. As early as the first millenium A.D., East Africa was an important part of an Indian Ocean trading system that included Arabia, India, Persia, and China. At the same time, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa exchanged scholars and ideas across the Sahara Desert, and West Africa exported gold and other precious commodities to Europe. These contacts took place long before the "Age of Exploration" when 15th century Europeans rediscovered Africa. The majority of objects in this gallery come from the colonial period of Africa's history, a time when European powers divided the continent into nation states whose boundaries often cut across ancient cultural and regional areas. Because African culture groups are often divided by national boundaries, we have identified objects by region as well as by culture and country. And because styles and beliefs are constantly transforming in Africa, we have pointed out, where possible, when objects were used and the influences that may have gone into producing particular objects. We have also identified the workshops or individuals who produced specific pieces, where this information is available.

Read about Benin history and our superb Benin collection!

see also African Studies at Penn [bookmark this page before you go]

On one side of the gallery the exhibition focuses on the use of objects to display status and to transfer laws and traditions to upcoming generations, and on the ways in which some African cultures have used objects to influence and communicate with the forces that control people's lives. The other side of the gallery displays objects of everyday life and invites you to compare the lifestyle of a group of hunter-gatherers with the lifestyle of subsistence farmers by looking at the objects each uses. When looking at these pieces, bear in mind that what you are seeing is only one small part of the complexity and diversity that is Africa!

Ekoi dance crest. Used in ceremonies of women's Egbege society. Nigeria, 20th cent.

Large wooden figure studded with nails, Bakongo tribe. Republic of the Congo, West Africa. 19th cent.

Status Objects everywhere in Africa are created and ornamented in ways which proclaim the taste and social position of the individuals who use them. The objects here are made to be seen and admired by all members of the community. Some indicate membership in a particular group or signify that their owners have become leaders in their communities. Other examples use costly materials and fine craftsmanship to indicate an individual's wealth and status. Traditions and Laws Masks have played an important role in the maintenance of traditions and laws in many West and Central African cultures. In some areas masks belong to initiation societies that teach social values and norms to each succeeding generation. In these societies children learn the prerequisites of adult life in secluded initiation camps. Using masks emphasizes that the norms children learn are derived from the ancestors or supernatural sources and are thus far more powerful and important than anything they may encounter in the world of human beings. In other cultures masks serve as agents of social control, periodically visiting communities to insure that moral codes are followed, to remind people of appropriate behavior, or to recreate cosmological principles. Staffs In many parts of Africa staffs identify those of high social status, such as rulers, elders, or other leaders. Sometimes these staffs are very plain, with possession of the staff itself signifying leadership. In other cultures, staffs are finely crafted decorative pieces, with the quality of the work symbolizing the owners' status level.

Magnificent Objects from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology by Jennifer Quick

Akan Gold Weights The Akan peoples in Ghana and the Ivory Coast have long been noted for their great kingdoms and states, some dating back to the 12th century. These states established long-distance trade relationships with the Near East, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and later, with Europe. Akan gold was the main commodity in this international trade as early as the 15th century, and the region became known as the "Gold Coast" From the 15th century until 1900, the use of gold dust in everyday transactions was common. Gold was weighed on balance scales against counterweights of precise values known by all traders, chiefs, and great kings, each of whom owned a set of graduated weights. The majority of counterweights were cast brass, made by the lost wax process and then adjusted to the proper weight by removing excess metal. The earlies weighing systems were Islamic and were based on measures called Mikhtal, used for weighing gold, and Waqia, used for silver and other commodities. European systems were introduced later. The most unique feature of virtually all Akan arts, especially gold weights, is the graphic or sculptural representation of symbols, objects, or scenes that are directly related to proverbs or other traditional sayings. This fact reflects the essence of Akan aesthetics and lends a unity to Akan arts, regardless of medium or object type. Proverbs associated with gold weights number in the thousands and pertain to nearly all types except geometric forms, though only a few of these sayings can be explained by the Akan themselves.

Communication and Influence All societies have complex systems of thought that give meaning to existence, explain why events occur and how people can influence events to gain control over their lives. Central to many African cosmologies are the contrasts between the natural and social worlds. Wilderness often represents the unknown, the chaotic, the dangerous, and the powerful. Towns represent civilization, social order, and safety. While nature and society can be in bitter opposition, they can also complement each other. Hunting, fishing, or farming in the wilderness provide food, and medicines often derive their efficacy from being associated with nature. Spirits, deities, or ancestors often provide the keys to controlling the chaotic and dangerous side of nature and channeling nature's power for the good of human beings. These supernatural beings, however, are often unpredictable, taking great delight in causing trouble and upsetting plans, but they are also able to bestow significant benefits when appeased through rituals or other actions. African cosmologies are not restricted to beliefs in natural or ancestral spirits. Christianity and Islam have an ancient history in Africa; both religions reached the continent within one generation of their being founded. In some places one religion predominates over the other two. In other places all three work together in varying combinations. Divination Divination is a particular kind of influence and communication in which specifically trained individuals are responsible for interpreting messages or prescribing actions that are dictated by spiritual forces. Musical Instruments Musical instruments displayed in the exhibit illustrate that specific instruments have been traded across cultures and regions, becoming part of the complex of rhythms, songs, and dances specific to each area as they moved. Likewise, groups of itinerant musicians have carried whole complexes, including songs, music, and instruments, with them as they traveled. The role of musician varies throughout the continent. In some areas musicians have the powerful role of genealogist, reciting family histories and genealogical ties to important ancestors that validate claims to political authority. In other places musicians are suspected of witchcraft because of their special talents. In still other places musical talent is something that all individuals are thought to possess. How different African communities think about and produce music are issues that reveal a lot about the specifics of particular cultures.

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