Download or read book Griot Potters of the Folona written by Barbara E Frank and published by . This book was released on 2022-02-02 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Griot Potters of the Folona reconstructs the past of a renowned group of West African women potters using evidence found in their artistry and techniques. The potters of the Folona region of southeastern Mali are entirely women, serving a diverse clientele and firing thousands of pots weekly during the height of the dry season. The unique styles and types of objects the Folona women make, and more importantly, the way they form and fire them, are fundamentally different from Mande potters to the north and west. Through a brilliant comparative analysis of pottery production methods across the region, especially how the pots are formed and the way the techniques are taught by mothers to daughters, Barbara Frank concludes that the potters of the Folona very likely came from the south and east, marrying wandering griots (West African leatherworkers who were storytellers or musicians), as they made their way north. While the women may have nominally given up their mothers' identities through marriage, over the generations the potters preserved their maternal heritage through their technological style, passing this knowledge on to their daughters.
Download or read book Griot Potters of the Folona written by Barbara E. Frank and published by Indiana University Press. This book was released on 2022-02-02 with total page 650 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Griot Potters of the Folona reconstructs the past of a particular group of West African women potters using evidence found in their artistry and techniques. The potters of the Folona region of southeastern Mali serve a diverse clientele and firing thousands of pots weekly during the height of the dry season. Although they identify themselves as Mande, the unique styles and types of objects the Folona women make, and more importantly, the way they form and fire them, are fundamentally different from Mande potters to the north and west. Through a brilliant comparative analysis of pottery production methods across the region, especially how the pots are formed and the way the techniques are taught by mothers to daughters, Barbara Frank concludes that the mothers of the potters of the Folona very likely came from the south and east, marrying Mande griots (West African leatherworkers who are better known as storytellers or musicians), as they made their way south in search of clientele as early as the 14th or 15th century CE. While the women may have nominally given up their mothers' identities through marriage, over the generations the potters preserved their maternal heritage through their technological style, passing this knowledge on to their daughters, and thus transforming the very nature of what it means to be a Mande griot. This is a story of resilience and the continuity of cultural heritage in the hands of women.
Download or read book African Arts written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 414 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Outsiders and Strangers written by Anne Haour and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2013-07-25 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Studies of liminality have a long history in anthropology. In archaeology, identifying past people - rather than faceless entities - through material culture is still a work in progress, but a project that has seen increased attention in recent years. Focusing on West Africa, this book argues that we should explore what happens when the primary label assigned to a person's identity is that of an outsider - when he or she is of, but not in, society. Such outsiders can be found everywhere in the West African past: rulers show off their foreign descent, traders migrate to new areas, potters and blacksmiths claim to be apart from society. Thus far, however, it is mainly historians and anthropologists who have tackled the question of outsiders or liminal people. This book asks what archaeology can bring to the debate, and drawing together for the first time the extensive literature on the subject of outsiders, looks in detail at the role they played in the past 1000 years of the West African past, in particular in the construction of great empires.
Download or read book African Pottery Roulettes Past and Present written by Anne Haour and published by Oxbow Books. This book was released on 2010-07-10 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: African Pottery Roulettes Past and Present considers ethnographic, museological and archaeological approaches to pottery-decorating tools called roulettes, that is to say, short lengths of fibre or wood that are rolled over the surface of a vessel for decoration. This book sets out, for the first time, a solid typology for the classification of African pottery decorated with such tools, and forges a consensus on common methodology and standards. It gives an overview of history of research into roulette decoration in Africa and elsewhere Jomon Japan, Neolithic Europe, Siberia, and New York among others; outlines the contemporary distribution of roulette usage in sub-Saharan African today, a 'success story' from Senegal to Tanzania; and proposes methodologies for the identification of selected roulette decoration types in the archaeological record. By achieving standardisation in pottery analysis, this book will help researchers make meaningful comparisons between different sites of West Africa, and thus guide further research on the West African past. As roulette decoration has been such a global phenomenon in the past, the book will also be of interest to all researchers with an interest in ceramics from different parts of the world.
Download or read book Imaging Culture written by Candace M. Keller and published by African Expressive Cultures. This book was released on 2021-07-06 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Imaging Culture is a sociohistorical study of the meaning, function, and aesthetic significance of photography in Mali, West Africa, from the 1930s to the present. Spanning the dynamic periods of colonialism, national independence, socialism, and democracy, its analysis focuses on the studio and documentary work of professional urban photographers, particularly in the capital city of Bamako and in smaller cities such as Mopti and Ségu. Featuring the work of more than one-hundred photographers, it concentrates on those who have been particularly influential for the local development and practice of the medium as well as its international popularization and active participation in the contemporary art market. Imaging Culture looks at how local aesthetic ideas are visually communicated in the photographers' art and argues that though these aesthetic arrangements have specific relevance for local consumers, they transcend geographical and cultural boundaries to have value for contemporary global audiences as well. Imaging Culture is an important and visually interesting book which will become a standard source for those who study African photography and its global impact.
Download or read book Status and Identity in West Africa written by David C. Conrad and published by Indiana University Press. This book was released on 1995-05-22 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "... the contributors to Status and Identity in West Africa have swept away the dust that has obscured the study of the societies of western Sudan and have made it possible to pursue the salutory work of decolonizing the history and sociology of these regions."Â -- American Ethnologist "This discussion is among the most significant contributions that African studies can make to the contemporary global dialogue on multicultural issues." -- Choice "It is 'must' reading for anyone who works in African literature today." -- Research in African Literatures "…an indispensable guide to understanding the producers of art in the Mande world, including the art of the spoken word. The writing and arguments are clear and jargon-free…it will provide a rich harvest of detailed original research…" -- African Arts "[This] book... is the most impressive effort to look at these groups in comparative perspective. The essays fit together nicely to challenge notions that came out of colonial scholarship." -- Journal of Interdisciplinary History "... the volume makes a significant contribution to the social history and ongoing processes of cultural pluralism in West Africa." -- Journal of Religion in Africa The nyamakalaw -- blacksmiths, potters, leather-workers, bards, and other artists and specialists among the Mande-speaking peoples of West Africa -- play powerful roles in Mande society. This book presents the first full portrait of one of Africa's most powerful and least understood social groups.
Download or read book Mastering Hand Building written by Sunshine Cobb and published by Voyageur Press (MN). This book was released on 2018-01-16 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mastering Hand Building teaches everything you need to know about building with clay by hand, from the basics of coils and slabs through more complex form design.
Download or read book Complete Pottery Techniques written by DK and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2019-08-27 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover how to develop your pottery design skills and bring your ideas to life from start to finish. Covering every technique from throwing pottery to firing, glazing to sgraffito, this pottery book is perfect for both hand-building beginners and potting pros. Step-by-step photographs - some from the potter's perspective - show you exactly where to place your hands when throwing so you can master every technique you need to know. Plus, expert tips help you rescue your pots when things go wrong. The next in the popular Artist's Techniques series, Complete Pottery is the ideal companion for pottery classes of any level, or a go-to guide and inspiration for the more experienced potter looking to expand their repertoire and perfect new skills. With contemporary design and ideas, Complete Pottery Techniques enables the modern maker to unleash their creativity.
Download or read book Asked What Has Changed written by Ed Roberson and published by Wesleyan University Press. This book was released on 2021-02-09 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Black ecopoet observes the changing world from a high-rise window, “ever alert to affinities between the small and the vast, the fleeting and the cosmic” (James Gibbons, Hyperallergic). Award-winning poet Ed Roberson confronts the realities of an era in which the fate of humanity and the very survival of our planet are uncertain. Departing from the traditional nature poem, Roberson's work reclaims a much older tradition, drawing into poetry’s orbit what the physical and human sciences reveal about the state of a changing world. These poems test how far the lyric can go as an answer to our crisis, even calling into question poetic form itself. Reflections on the natural world and moments of personal interiority are interwoven with images of urbanscapes, environmental crises, and political instabilities. These poems speak life and truth to modernity in all its complexity. Throughout, Roberson takes up the ancient spiritual concern—the ephemerality of life—and gives us a new language to process the feeling of living in a century on the brink.
Download or read book If Divination Knowledge Power and Performance written by Jacob K. Olupona and published by Indiana University Press. This book was released on 2016-02-29 with total page 390 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This landmark volume compiled by Jacob K. Olupona and Rowland O. Abiodun brings readers into the diverse world of Ifá—its discourse, ways of thinking, and artistic expression as manifested throughout the Afro-Atlantic. Firmly rooting Ifá within African religious traditions, the essays consider Ifá and Ifá divination from the perspectives of philosophy, performance studies, and cultural studies. They also examine the sacred context, verbal art, and the interpretation of Ifá texts and philosophy. With essays from the most respected scholars in the field, the book makes a substantial contribution toward understanding Ifá and its role in contemporary Yoruba and diaspora cultures.
Download or read book The Swahili World written by Stephanie Wynne-Jones and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-10-16 with total page 672 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Swahili World presents the fascinating story of a major world civilization, exploring the archaeology, history, linguistics, and anthropology of the Indian Ocean coast of Africa. It covers a 1,500-year sweep of history, from the first settlement of the coast to the complex urban tradition found there today. Swahili towns contain monumental palaces, tombs, and mosques, set among more humble houses; they were home to fishers, farmers, traders, and specialists of many kinds. The towns have been Muslim since perhaps the eighth century CE, participating in international networks connecting people around the Indian Ocean rim and beyond. Successive colonial regimes have helped shape modern Swahili society, which has incorporated such influences into the region’s long-standing cosmopolitan tradition. This is the first volume to explore the Swahili in chronological perspective. Each chapter offers a unique wealth of detail on an aspect of the region’s past, written by the leading scholars on the subject. The result is a book that allows both specialist and non-specialist readers to explore the diversity of the Swahili tradition, how Swahili society has changed over time, as well as how our understandings of the region have shifted since Swahili studies first began. Scholars of the African continent will find the most nuanced and detailed consideration of Swahili culture, language and history ever produced. For readers unfamiliar with the region or the people involved, the chapters here provide an ideal introduction to a new and wonderful geography, at the interface of Africa and the Indian Ocean world, and among a people whose culture remains one of Africa’s most distinctive achievements.
Download or read book Ceramics Masterclass written by Louisa Taylor and published by White Lion Publishing. This book was released on 2020-08-11 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ceramics Masterclass examines 100 great pieces of ceramics from history and explores how they were made what they do well and what we learn from them. The subject of ceramics is steeped in history and tradition. For thousands of years humans have exploited the versatile qualities of clay as a material to produce items ranging from humble utilitarian vessels integral to family living, right through to exquisite works of art. Louisa Taylor explores this diverse discipline by showcasing 100 of the most innovative and inspiring artists past and present, analysing the techniques and methods used to create the works, and the concepts which underpin their creative process. The book shows how to recreate intricate still-life dioramas like fifteenth-century artist Bernard Palissy, explore narrative like Grayson Perry and convey sensitivity to material like Phoebe Cummings. Arranged thematically, Ceramics Masterclass will include chapters on vessels, form and surface, function, figurative works, one-offs and installations. Explores the artistic process, methodology and techniques of 100 great artists In-depth ceramic techniques section covering skills integral to working with clay Includes historical and contemporary examples Represents a global perspective of the field, including dynamic and ground-breaking approaches to clay Perfect for students, amateur ceramicists and professionals, this book will represent a global perspective of historical and contemporary approaches to clay and be a catalyst for discovery and intrigue.
Download or read book Ceramic Transfer Printing written by Kevin Petrie and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2021-12-09 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ultimate guide to the potential of ceramic transfer printing as a creative medium. This book is ideal for anyone wishing to combine ceramics with print and transfers, a very exciting area which has enormous scope for creativity. Ceramic transfers or decals are one of the prime methods of decorating industrially-made ceramics. They also offer exciting creative potential for studio-based artists or designer-makers. A ceramic transfer is traditionally made by printing ceramic ink onto a special paper and allows pictures, patterns or text to be transferred onto ceramic forms - 2D and 3D. Importantly, print can achieve distinct aesthetic effects on ceramics that are not possible by using other decoration methods such as hand painting. Drawing on over twenty years of experience, Kevin Petrie offers a focused analysis of the potential of ceramic transfer printing as a creative medium. Discover the specific materials and techniques for making versatile screen-printed ceramic transfers - from the 'low tech' to the more sophisticated. In this book, you can also explore other approaches by artist researchers as well as recent developments with digital transfers. A range of case studies shows the potential and diversity of the transfer printing approach in this area, which extends beyond ceramics to include printing on enamel, metal and glass.
Download or read book Divine Fertility written by Sada Mire and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-02-05 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book uniquely explores the impact of indigenous ideology and thought on everyday life in Northeast Africa. Furthermore, in highlighting the diversity in pre-Christian, pre-Islamic regional beliefs and practices that extend beyond the simplistic political arguments of the current dominant narratives, the study shows that for millennia complex indigenous institutions have bound people together beyond the labels of Christianity and Islam; they have sustained peace through cultural exchange and tolerance (if not always complete acceptance). Through recent archaeological and ethnographic research, the concepts, landscapes, materials and rituals believed to be associated with the indigenous and shared culture of the Sky-God belief are examined. The author makes sense, for the first time, of the relationship between the notion of sacred fertility and a number of regional archaeological features and on-going ancient practices including FGM, spirit possessions, and other physically invasive practices and the ritual hunt. The book explores one of the most important pilgrimage centres in Somaliland and Somalia, the sacred landscape of Saint Aw-Barkhadle, founded ca. 12th century AD. It is believed to be the burial place of the rulers of the first Muslim Ifat and Awdal dynasties in this region, and potentially the lost first capital of Awdal kingdom before Harar. This ritual centre is seen as a ‘microcosm’ of the ancient Horn of Africa with its exceptional multi-religious heritage, through which the author lays out a locally appropriate archaeological interpretational framework, the "Ritual Set," also applied here to the Ethiopian sites of Tiya, Sheikh Hussein Bale, Aksum and Lalibela, setting these places against a wider historical background of indigenous Sky-God belief. This archaeological study of sacred landscapes, stelae traditions, ancient Christian and medieval Muslim centres of Northeast Africa is the first to put forward a theoretical and analytical framework for the interpretation of the shared regional heritage and the indigenous archaeology of the region. It will be invaluable to archaeologists, anthropologists, historians and policymakers interested in Africa and beyond.
Download or read book The Potter s Dictionary of Materials and Techniques written by Frank Hamer and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. This book was released on 1997 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "An alphabetical listing of almost every material, form, term, and process used in or relating to pottery making. Well illustrated in black-and-white, with a few gorgeous color plates."--Pottery Making Illustrated (reviewing the fourth edition)
Download or read book Urban Potters written by Katie Treggiden and published by Ludion Publishers. This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than thirty young and passionate ceramicists in New York, London, Tokyo, Copenhagen, Sydney and Sao Paulo introduce us to their work, their studios and their inspiration. The book also includes a practical source list of places to buy handmade ceramics in the six cities featured
