Into Ancestorhood: Death as Continuity in Traditional West African Art

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Concepts of Death in Traditional West African Cultures:

Throughout traditional West African cultures there seems to be a commonality in the idea that death should mark the completion of one's life on earth and hopefully the beginning of one's life in “the village of the dead." Funeral activities are commonly viewed as a final rite of passage, functioning to ensure that this transition goes as it should for the benefit of all involved, including both the surviving townspeople, as well as others who are already dead: the ancestors. [1]  The continuity that Africans perceive in the life of an individual is echoed in the fact that their traditional cosmology does not include a perception of the "end of the world." There is instead a "rhythm of nature which nothing can destroy." [3]

The Concept of Death In Art:

Art-most often in forms such as masks and headpieces, music, musical instruments, dancing, sculptures, screens, and textiles-plays a significant role in facilitating the transition from life to death [1].   In all these mediums, we see numerous symbolic motifs repeated such as animal imagery, twins, and the concept of the primordial couple, as well as symbols which represent important proverbs.  It is also interesting to look at royal art and architecture, as kings are in many ways considered to exist in both the world of the living and the dead. [4]

Purpose of this Exhibit:

This exhibit attempts to provide a thematic overview of the concept of death as continuity in terms of what we would refer to as "art."  The intention here is not to impose a structure or order on a concept that is integrally complicated, but instead to reflect and represent this complexity through diverse, culturally specific examples.