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Hint
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Artwork
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Has a role as a witness, enforcer of community affairs, and cautions people who stray from the community's norms
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Power figure (Nksisi n'kondi)
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Dons enormous horns which symbolizes power and a ram (aggression)
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Ikenga (shrine figure)
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Artisans are the Kuba peoples
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Ndop (portrait figure)
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Largest mud-brick building of its kind
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Great Mosque of Djenné
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Centerpiece of the Crepissago de la [artwork name], in which it is repaired by the people: typically men mix adobe solution, women gather water, and elders advise
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Great Mosque of Djenné
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Depicts actions only permitted to be done to the Oba (king)
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Wall plaque, from Oba's palace
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An object so sacred none are allowed to touch it (except the king), it has a personal pedestal and may never touch the ground, and, in ceremonies, a replica is used
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Sika dwa kofi (Golden Stool)
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Made by the all-female Sande society
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Bundu Mask
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Its broad forehead, downcast eye sockets, and column-shaped nose associate the figure with intellect and respect
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Mblo (Portrait mask)
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Artisans are the Shona peoples
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Great Zimbabwe
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Artisans are the Baule peoples
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Mblo (Portrait mask)
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Representative of great-dancer Moya Yanso (which is typically unknown to Western audiences) and worn, in ceremony, by her husband and later her sons
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Mblo (Portrait mask)
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The work's material and the worn coral beads are both obtained through trade with the Portuguese
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Wall plaque, from Oba's palace
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Maintained in a man's home and is often destroyed after his death (sometimes reused)
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Ikenga (shrine figure)
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Features a large (though not the focal point) senior wife (Opa Ogoga) crowning the king during his coronation; she would also be expected to protect and advise him during his reign
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Veranda Post of enthroned king and senior wife (Opa Ogoga)
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Has three tall towers, one of which being a mihrab
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Great Mosque of Djenné
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Features a pushed-in chin, slender nose, high forehead (suggesting intellect), and an idealized hair style
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Female (Pwo) mask
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Proportions (given the head is 1/3 the height of the body), unopened lips, and closed eyes indicate the idealized state of possessing wisdom
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Ndop (portrait figure)
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Its culture's people had no organized class system or positions, so objects such as this show individual achievement and merit
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Ikenga (shrine figure)
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Artisans are the Edo peoples
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Wall plaque, from Oba's palace
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Rubbed with oil to protect from insects, like termites; especially importance as it is the oldest existing of its kind
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Ndop (portrait figure)
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Feet dangle over the rim of the cylindrical bark containers its placed on, a gesture of protecting its contents
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Byeri (Reliquary figure)
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Carved from wood to an hourglass shape, then adorned with beads, shells, or metal
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Lukasa (memory board)
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Artisans are the Kongo peoples
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Power figure (Nksisi n'kondi)
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Carved by Olowe of Ise for rulers of one of the kingdoms of Nigeria; contained in a palace at Ikere, Nigeria
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Veranda Post of enthroned king and senior wife (Opa Ogoga)
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Roughly translates to "venerated stone houses" in the native language
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Great Zimbabwe
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Medical properties or symbolic items are inserted into its cavity, thought to be one's life or soul
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Power figure (Nksisi n'kondi)
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Bells hang from the work's side to warn the king of danger, if needed
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Sika dwa kofi (Golden Stool)
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Artisans are the Bamileke peoples
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Aka elephant mask
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Placed on a wooden pillar that was part of a sprawling palace complex in Benin
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Wall plaque, from Oba's palace
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Artisans are the Ashanti peoples
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Sika dwa kofi (Golden Stool)
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New kings of the nation are raised over this sacred object
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Sika dwa kofi (Golden Stool)
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Located in Southeastern Zimbabwe
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Great Zimbabwe
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Uses ashlar masonry and trapezoidal inward-sloping structures, similar to Inca construction
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Great Zimbabwe
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Embraces traditional masculine associations of strength and potency, its elaborateness telling of its owners achievements
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Ikenga (shrine figure)
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Features complicated and elaborate use of negative space (unusual for most African art) creating sense of openness; very difficult, especially since carved from one piece of wood
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Veranda Post of enthroned king and senior wife (Opa Ogoga)
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Holds a peace knife in its left hand in a non-aggressive pose (the handle is facing outwards)
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Ndop (portrait figure)
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An epicene (indeterminate sex) body sitting in a tranquil, cross-legged pose on a base
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Ndop (portrait figure)
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Many nails are pounded into this work in order to prod the spirit into action i.e. to bless or harm others
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Power figure (Nksisi n'kondi)
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Acted as a surrogate in the king's absence
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Ndop (portrait figure)
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Has three brass triangular additions which, along with the lustrous patina (coating), emphasizes sunlight and suggests health
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Mblo (Portrait mask)
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Emphasizes balance, given symmetry, and duality, given features of an infant (big forehead, big belly button which symbolizes umbilical cord) and adult (muscles and adult, tubular body); note infants were connected with the dead in its culture
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Byeri (Reliquary figure)
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Controlled by the Mbudye (interpreters and philosophers) could read the memory board via gently touching the beads which he will discuss with his right index finger
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Lukasa (memory board)
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Likely apotropaic (to keep evil spirits away), given its gesture (hands clasped) and location (above remains). Also likely didactic (meant for teaching) like the Lukasa.
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Byeri (Reliquary figure)
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Includes rosette shapes inspired by Christian crosses
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Wall plaque, from Oba's palace
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Only African wooden masks worn by women
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Bundu Mask
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Its back resembles a turtle's shell reflecting duality (an animal that lives on land and water) and is a metaphor for the opposed embodiments of power: Kongolo Mwamba (excess and tyranny) and Mbidi Kiluwe (hero who introduced royal culture)
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Lukasa (memory board)
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Artisans are the Chokwe peoples
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Female (Pwo) mask
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Artisans are the Yoruba peoples
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Veranda Post of enthroned king and senior wife (Opa Ogoga)
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Contains three smaller figures: a flute-playing trickster god, Eshu, his junior wife, and a now-missing fan bearer
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Veranda Post of enthroned king and senior wife (Opa Ogoga)
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Had admired characteristics of its culture's people— tranquility, introspection, and vitality— as well as portability (given the culture's nomadic nature)
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Byeri (Reliquary figure)
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Made of bronze, fitting as it is designated for a royal court, giving the work greater value
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Wall plaque, from Oba's palace
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Symbolizes and costumed as Sowei, a female water spirit and for female ancestor spirits
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Bundu Mask
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Dons a crown with six projecting tubular pieces
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Mblo (Portrait mask)
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Created by known artist, Owie Kimou, unusual considering the artist of such works is typically lost to Western knowledge
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Mblo (Portrait mask)
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Requires consecration via offerings before use
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Ikenga (shrine figure)
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Includes a horse, an animal imported into Africa
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Wall plaque, from Oba's palace
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Dons royal regalia (bracelets, arm bands, belts, headdress), similar to the rulers in ceremonies, as well as his symbol (like a coat of arms), since the sculpture was not represenative
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Ndop (portrait figure)
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Artisans are the Luba peoples
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Lukasa (memory board)
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Carved out of a hardwood, showcasing one's strength and masculinity
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Ikenga (shrine figure)
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