The African Tribal Art Room

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African tribal art has many dimensions. Dance masks are used in African village ceremonies to placate the spirit world, to propitiate good health and harvest, to protect deceased loved ones on their journey to the other world, to discipline and educate, and more. Carvings are made to protect the village from bush spirits or to please a spouse in the other world. Textiles are created to clothe, decorate, and demonstrate domestic skills. Jewelry is crafted to adorn the body. Pottery, musical instruments, and implements are designed to reinforce cultural values and bring beauty to every day life. This is what African tribal art.

Baga
Baga Nimba maskBaga Elek mask

Baule

African Baule maskAfrican Baule slingshotAfrican Baule maskBaule janus bowlBuale African maskBaule heddle pulleyBaule walking stickBaule maternity carvingBaule female figure
African Baule tribal slingshotBaule spirit figureBaule African figureBaule African femaleBaule African tribal mask

Benin

Benin bronze bustBenin carved slot chairBenin Oba terra cotta
Dan
African Dan Guerre maskAfrican Dan tribal maskAfrican tribal mask - DanAfrican Dan spoonAfrican Dan hornbill maskAfrican Dan maskDan African maskDan tribe African mask
Dogon
Dogon Walu African maskDogon African maskDogon tribal staffKanaga Dogon maskDogon African oil lamp
Ibo- Igbo

African Ibo colonial maskIbo African maskIbo colonial African maskAfrican Ibo maskAfrican Ibo tribe maskAfrican Ibo dance wand
African Ibo kola nut bowlAfrican Igbo maskIgbo leopard carving
Kuba
Kuba tribe drumAfrican mask - KubaKuba hand maskKuba Ngaady maskKuba African tribalmaskAfrican Kuba dance maskAfrican Kuba hand drum
Kuba African wood containerAfrican Kuba basketAfrican Kuba wood cup
Senoufo
Senoufo divination figureSenoufo carved wood caneSenoufo kpele maskSenooufo agriculture maskSenoufo loom bobbinSenoufo divination figure
Yoruba
 
Yoruba-beaded crownYoruba maskYoruba egungun maskYoruba gelede maskYoruba house of the head
Other Tribes and Areas

Agni maternity figureAshanti kuduoAttie woman carvingBambara-granary lockBambara African maskBambara ntomo maskBamileke beaded elephant maskBamileke betcham maskBamoun male figure

Cameroon basket rattleAfrican djimini maskAfrican Fang reliquary

African Fon LioAfrican Fang maskAfrican Guro figureAfican Guro head maskGuro maskGuro mask

African Guro maskGurunsi Nafana maskAfrican Hembe rattleBaKongo nail fetishKwere African tobacco containerLobi bronze stool

African Lobi wandMangbetu bush harpMarka Ndomo omaskAfrican Memuye figureNgombe bronze armguardOgoni figurePende jarAfrican Pende maskPende mask

African Pende mask Tchokwe ChairAfrican Tchokwe chairAfrican Teke maskToma maternity figureWolo bushcow maskYaka pig mask

African Yaka currencyBaYaka African ancestor figureYaure maternity figure

 

We interrupt this program for a special announcement: Now any item with a purchase price exceeding $200 may be purchased on extended payments through our Collector's Club.

Who is from Where?

European political divisions have been superimposed on African tribal areas. Since these "countries" are the primary map references in Western culture, the following guide is offered to help you match the tribe with the appropriate political entity .

Visit the Gallery

  Portuguese Guinea

  • Bijogo (Bidjogo, Bijugu)
  Republic of Guinea

  • Baga
  • Landouma
  • Toma (Nalou)
  Sierra Leone

  • Mende, (Temne, Timne)
  Mali

  • Bambara, (Bamana) Bozo
  • Dogon
  • Malinke
  • Marka
  Liberia

  • Bassa (Basa)
  • Gio
  • Grebe
  • Guere (Ngere)
  • Wobe (Ouobe)
  Cote d'Ivoire
  Burkina Faso
 Ghana
 Nigeria
 Cameroon

  • Bamun
  • Bekum
  • Eko
  • Keaka (Kaka)
  • Mambila
 Gabon

 

  • Ambete (Mbete)
  • Adouma (Badouma)
  • Fang (Pangwe)
  • M'Pongwe (Balumbo)
  • Mahonque
 Congo

  • Bakwele (Kwele)
  • Ateke (Teke, Tsaye)
  • Bavili
  • Kuyu (Babochi)
 Republic of Congo


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239-482-7025
800-305-0185

Tribalworks,an Aboriginals web site
This site is maintained by Eyewriter Consultants
(c) 2002 - 2013 Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, Member Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association