Traditional African Art

The art of sub–Saharan Africa reveals the marvelous achievements of unknown artists over thousands of years. Their aesthetic ideal finds form in wood, ivory, fabric, bronze and iron. This illustrated study of traditional African art includes pieces from Western Sudan, the Congolese Basin, the Guinea coast, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and East and South Africa. Each piece is characterized by its own traditions and artistic forms. The earliest works date from the beginning of the first millennium, the most recent from the early 20th century. Unique and rare examples are documented, many heretofore virtually unknown.

Avner Shakarov is a researcher and retired mechanical engineer. He studied in West Africa as an independent scholar in the 1960s and has been a collector of African art since 1962.
Lyubov Senatorova is an engineer and independent scholar of African history and art.

Avner Shakarov and Lyubov Senatorova
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 172
Bibliographic Info: 113 photos (25 in color), glossary, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2015
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9874-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2003-9
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


About This Book (Lyubov Senatorova) vii

Preface (Avner Shakarov) 1

Introduction 3

Ancient Monuments of African Art

Rock Art 9

Ancient Sculpture: Court Art 16

Between pages 24 and 25 are 8 color plates containing 25 photographs

Traditional Art

Western Sudan 26

Guinean Coast 46

Congolese Basin and Adjacent Areas 87

Gabon and Adjacent Areas 88

Democratic Republic of Congo and Adjacent Areas 104

East Africa 135

South Africa 142

Conclusion 143

Glossary 145

Bibliography 147

Index 151