| Yoruba Art | | | | represent birds, flowers, and faces. In |
| | | | contemporary Yoruba art, the men also create |
| Africa is a continent that is rich in | | | | the woodcarvings. Woodcarving is considered |
| tradition, history, and still maintains a | | | | to be the most important art form. Most of |
| sense of the mysterious. Throughout the | | | | the culture's sacred objects are carved from |
| centuries, its diverse and creative people | | | | wood. |
| have made some of the most unique and | | | | |
| beautiful pieces of art the world has ever | | | | Both genders of Yoruba society take care of |
| seen. Regardless of the medium chosen, | | | | making the textiles. Over the years, several |
| African art depicts the fascinating culture | | | | different types of looms have been invented |
| from which it came. In the case of Yoruba | | | | to vary the texture and type of cloth |
| art, this African tradition is continued and | | | | produced. Cotton and wild silk are woven into |
| embraced. While staying true to the practices | | | | beautiful, colorful cloth to be used for |
| of their ancestors, artists today still make | | | | clothing and other needs. This Yoruba art |
| amazing examples of beadwork, sculpture, and | | | | form is dyed using the native plant indigo. |
| textiles, as well as metalwork and | | | | The weavers are incredibly skilled at |
| woodcarving.masterpiece. Over time, this form | | | | creating thousands of unique patterns in the |
| of Yoruba art continued to be perfected and | | | | same manner as their ancestors. |
| resulted in some of the finest examples of | | | | |
| ancient African life. | | | | Modern Yoruba art can be described as a |
| | | | widely diverse art form. From the beadwork to |
| Most societies have traditional gender roles | | | | the woodcarvings, the Yoruba people have |
| and the Yoruba people had their set, | | | | crafted many works of art to reflect their |
| gender-specific roles as well. The women are | | | | life in Western Africa. |
| responsible for crafting their stunning | | | | |
| pottery. This tradition is still practiced | | | | Mr. Moyo Ogundipe has a Bachelors of Arts |
| in Yoruba life. Pottery is a thriving | | | | degree in Fine Art from the University of |
| business industry as not all towns have | | | | Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and a Master of Fine |
| access to clay, and those that don't | | | | Art degree in Painting from The Hoffberger |
| purchase their pottery from neighboring | | | | School of Painting, Maryland Institute |
| villages. That makes thepottery a very | | | | College of Art, Baltimore, USA. |
| lucrative form oftraditional Yoruba art. Of | | | | |
| course some of the pottery made has | | | | One of Africa's most celebrated and renowned |
| functional purposes, like cooking, storage, | | | | modern Yoruba artists, Mr. Ogundipe has |
| and eating vessels. Others are made for | | | | exhibited extensively in Africa, Europe and |
| ceremonial purposes and are make in honor of | | | | the USA. His paintings have been described as |
| the gods. The Yoruba women are also known for | | | | hypnotic, colorful and densely patterned. |
| their well-crafted palm oil lamps. | | | | |
| | | | In 1996, Mr. Ogundipe was awarded the |
| While the women are responsible for the | | | | Pollock-Krasner Fellowship. And in 2005 he |
| pottery, the men have the honor of producing | | | | was invited to become a member of Africobra, |
| the intricate beadwork that is such a large | | | | an organization founded in the 1960s and |
| part of Yoruba art. The men craft items like | | | | whose membership comprises of distinguished |
| cushions, sandals, and bags. Skins from | | | | |
| antelope, sheep, and goats are the material | | | | African-American artists. |
| of choice. Designs are often made to | | | | |