Give him something that celebrates African culture – from handmade art to skincare products – that shows he is on your mind and that you share his values.
African textiles are an engaging form of traditional art, and can make a striking statement in his home. Consider adding a Kuba cloth pillow or mudcloth kofi hat as part of his decor.
African Masks
African art’s most enduring symbols is the mask. African masks often resemble animal faces or muzzles but in an abstract, stylized fashion; their purpose is to convey animal spirit rather than its appearance; for example, Bwa people in Burkina Faso use nwantantay masks that represent flying spirits of the forest and are made up of abstract geometric forms.
African masks may seem like mere art objects, but they actually serve a vital purpose. Used in ceremonies to link the human world with spiritual realm, African masks can provide protection and prosperity to a community while upholding social order and morality. Furthermore, using masks in dance performances may call upon ancestors in times of crisis and disaster relief.
Masquerades serve to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural identities by way of masquerade balls and masquerade masks, with designs and styles of African masks often reflecting these identities. Below is an example of a Luba dance mask used during ritual dances related to fertility rituals that was decorated with carefully filed teeth to symbolize feminine beauty in an ancient African community.
Headdress masks are another beautiful example of African culture and art’s diversity, constructed of carved acacia wood with an ornamented crown made up of feathers used as sacrifice. A headscarf serves as a powerful statement about earthly and spiritual realms interacting.
If your friend is traveling to Africa, this would make an ideal gift. They’ll use it to record all their adventures! For something more practical and useful, how about giving this passport cover featuring a map of Africa instead?
African Textiles
Woven textiles represent an invaluable African visual tradition with a significant legacy in modern and contemporary art, often serving as sources of inspiration for Western artists such as Picasso, Klimt and Matisse. Our vast collection provides material evidence of these aesthetic legacies which continue to inform their practices today.
This collection’s textiles range from the bolder patterns of Kente cloth, worn by high-ranking members of Asante Empire’s royal court, to sparser panels and natural tones of Kuba raffia cloth – worn by members of their royal court – to its sparser panels and natural toned designs. The quirky geometries seen in these fabrics predate those seen in abstract works by such major artists as Picasso and Klimt; its quirky geometries also inspire many patterns found in African masks which represent West Africa’s artistic heritage.
African fabric patterns often incorporate intricate embroidery or applique techniques combined with weaving. Hausa weavers in Nigeria and Cameroon specialize in delicate patchwork and applique techniques, while Kuba weavers employ an ingenious cut-pile technique whereby woven raffia is cut to create soft piles – often combined with embroidery work – creating soft piles on their textiles. These textile techniques are imbued with ritual connotations, featuring imagery such as combs and mirrors to protect from evil, knives to shield from envious gazes and other symbols of power and fertility. Contrary to more rigid repetition found in Western weaving techniques, Islamic textiles often incorporate unexpected elements, including deliberate mistakes that reflect strictures against perfection.
This fair trade and sustainable djembe, handmade by women of the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria and made from African wax cotton known for its stunning patterns, makes an unforgettable gift. Made by Novica–a company which pays its artisans fairly and uses profits to benefit local communities–this piece makes an amazing impressionful statement about music!
Hand-Carved African Figurines
Add hand-carved African figures to your home decor as a striking way to honor its diverse cultures and celebrate them! Figurines come in all kinds of styles and sizes ranging from intricate portraits to abstract sculptures; some depict key figures or symbols while others have spiritual meaning; regardless of their purpose, these figurines are prized for their craftsmanship and distinctive artistry.
African figurines that most reflect people and their daily lives include wooden masks and carvings of tribal warriors made from wood, as well as folk art statues made of various materials such as paper mache. Also popular are fertility dolls made of ebony wood which are believed to increase fertility and support healthy childbirth; such figurines may feature beads or shells to ensure maximum effectiveness during birthing processes – these figures can often be found for sale throughout Africa.
African artisans also create sculptures in modern and contemporary styles. These pieces often exhibit folk art or Mid-Century Modern elements and add a bit of African culture into any room in your home.
Soapstone sculptures are another popular element of African home decor, often hand-carved wet using simple tools before being hand-painted with traditional designs. Soapstone is an easily workable soft stone which can be shaped into many different forms and sizes.
Consider your recipient’s interests and tastes when choosing a figurine as a present. For instance, if they love animals such as elephants or giraffes, or other popular animal sculptures such as those depicting wild game such as lions and cheetahs.
Purchase handmade gifts for him as an act of support for African artisans and their families, while adding beauty and culture of Africa into your home. By supporting African artisans through purchases such as these handmade presents you are helping preserve traditional artwork in Africa.
African Art
Africa is home to over 1000 ethnic groups, each with its own climate, geography, flora and fauna. Although popular culture often presents Africa as one unified entity with one culture at its center, this vast and vibrant continent contains myriad rich and vibrant cultural traditions that bring people together from around the globe.
This exhibition highlights some of the many forms African art takes, ranging from basketry and jewelry making, masks to sculpture, textiles to paintings, textiles with geometric designs, textile paintings and other techniques used by African artists to express themselves creatively and emotionally through art. These objects showcase not only their creativity but also how African artists use art to communicate ideas and feelings that they otherwise couldn’t through other means.
Not only are African works beautiful to view, they serve an important social purpose as well. Their creators and the communities in which they reside find identity through these works; this sense is determined by factors like religion and political affiliations of family members as well as group membership, chief recognition and affiliation, cults or guilds with which one associates. Art forms like painting are instrumental in developing such identities – this exhibition highlights this aspect of African arts artists incorporating them into their artwork.
Though African art is commonly associated with tradition, this exhibition illustrates that modern African artists are also taking an innovative approach. El Anatsui – widely considered the father of modern African art – employs materials and methods of his ancestors in creating works which explore contemporary themes. Artists such as Antonio Ole and Aime Mpane create visually complex works using found or organic materials that address economic or environmental challenges facing their countries.
This exhibition includes an eclectic range of artwork, from historical African pieces to cutting-edge contemporary work from some of today’s renowned artists such as Sammy Baloji and Moataz Nasr whose bodies explore concepts related to time. Berni Searle and Yinka Shonibare MBE continue their investigation of African art in all its manifestations.