Art and Architecture
Plate 3: The Dogon people of Mali have an elaborate mythology and complex rituals related to agriculture and death. This painting on a cliff wall marks the site of Dogon initiation ceremonies.
Plate 5: The Baule, the largest ethnic group in Ivory Coast, are known for their sculpture and wood carving. The Baule masks shown here play an important role in a ceremony.
Plate 7: Africans use baskets for storing or serving food or for carrying goods. These woven baskets made of reeds come from Huéla Province in the Central Highlands of Angola.
Plate 8: Traditionally, carved objects were made for functional or ceremonial purposes. This craftsman in Swaziland in southern Africa carves a statue of a man out of a piece of wood. Most of his work is sold to tourists.
Plate 11: Namibia was a colony of Germany and then of South Africa. This Lutheran church in the Namibian capital of Windhoek was built in 1910 during the German rule.
Plate 13: Geometric designs, flowing patterns of lines and curves, and calligraphy—decorative script—adorn many buildings in North Africa. This colorful door marks the entry to a house in Tunisia.
Plate 15: Malangatana, the best-known artist in Mozambique today, specializes in murals. His paintings include scenes from his country's history, including the colonial period and World War II. Shown here is his mural at the University of Western Cape in South Africa.
