| I | N | T | O | ||||
| A | N | C | E | ||||
| S | T | O | R | ||||
| H | O | O | D |
Into Ancestorhood: Death as Continuity in Traditional West African Art
E
S
T
A
F
R
I
C
A
N
A
R
T
Ancestor-
Hood
Home
Animal Symbolism:
Animal symbolism is prevalent in all West African art and
often directly relates to the idea of death as continuity; expressing fluidity
between the world of the dead and the living.
One particularly common theme relates to animals who are
understood to exist in two realms-water and land or land and air-evoking connections to the watery land of the dead and mirroring
the king's position as mediator between the two worlds. For this reason, animal symbolism is particularly present on
royal art and architecture, as well as
masks, textiles, and other materials used in funeral
rites. Birds, mudfish, and snakes are recognized for these traits and
are prevalent in these mediums. Following on this idea, animals that
undergo some sort of metamorphosis in their life cycle, such as
grasshoppers and frogs, are similarly connected to the ancestors and
rulers. [4]
The upright serpent or python is another common theme
![Baga, Serpent Head Piece, Wood, [3]](../Images/Baga_wood_serpent_headpeice.jpg)
of continuity often
reflected in many different arts relating to funeral activities. [3]
Besides having a symbolically fluid shape and capability of movement, snakes
of all kinds are recognized for their ability to move on land, water, and
in trees. The Dogon people also believe that, "in the beginning men
did not die, but were transformed into serpents." [3] Gallery
Me