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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Art, History and Gender: Women and Clay in West Africa
Author:Berns, Marla C.ISNI
Year:1993
Periodical:African Archaeological Review
Volume:11
Pages:129-148
Language:English
Geographic term:West Africa
Subjects:women
archaeology
art history
pottery
Women's Issues
Architecture and the Arts
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Anthropology and Archaeology
History and Exploration
arts
Historical/Biographical
Cultural Roles
Sex Roles
External link:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01118145
Abstract:The archaeologically recovered ceramic sculptures from Nok and Ife in Nigeria, the Inland Niger Delta in Mali, the Lake Chad Basin, Komaland in Ghana and other sites in sub-Saharan Africa are claimed to be among the oldest and most celebrated manifestations of artistic excellence in Africa, with the earliest dating to 500 BC in the case of Nok. The question of who made these ceramics is rarely raised. A close look at the art historical and archaeological literature exposes the gender biases that privilege men's 'high' art over women's 'low' craft, making men the presumed creators of these works. This paper argues against the omission of women from interpretations of figurative and other ritually destined ceramics and argues for the critical reconsideration of how women as potters and as artists have been active participants in the history of art, social relations and ritual practice in Africa. Women produce not only a wide range of ceramic vessels for domestic and ritual purposes but various kinds of ceramic figurative sculptures used in sacred or ceremonial contexts. This is illustrated by a series of 20th century examples from Nigeria. These data raise several key issues that affect the way in which historical reconstruction and interpretation in Nigeria and elsewhere are approached. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French.
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