ancient African styles and periods

Figure of a Man Riding an Elephant

This extraordinary sculpture, now fragmentary, presents an intentionally disproportionate image of a large, broad-shouldered man, with a carefully manicured beard, riding a tiny elephant. Their inter-locking forms suggest a mutual interdependence. The shapes of their ears echo one another. The rider grasps the elephant’s ear, a significant gesture since elephants hear sounds inaudible to humans. […]

Portrait of Sogolon, Mother of Sundiata, Founder of the Empire of Mali

This torso, from the region of the ancient city of Djenné, depicts Sogolon, mother of Sundiata Keita (ca. 1217–1255 CE), founder of the Mali Empire. Sogolon was a real woman immortalized in the Epic of Sundiata. Over time, myth imbued her with supernatural abilities, including invincibility and the ability to transform herself into a buffalo-woman.

Male Figure

This powerfully expressive, elegant figure, with its face tilted toward the heavens, comes from the region of the ancient city of Djenne, in Mali, West Africa. Djenne is considered the most ancient city in sub-Saharan Africa, founded more than 2,000 years ago. Today the entire city, which includes the Great Mosque, whose foundations date to […]

Vessel

Located along the Niger River in present-day Niger and Mali, the ancient sites of the Bura culture have been excavated by researchers and found to include areas dedicated to burials and other rituals as well as zones used for habitation. Some of the most striking discoveries involved the unearthing of huge cemeteries such the one […]

Vessel

Located along the Niger River in present-day Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, the ancient sites of the Bura culture have been excavated by researchers and found to include areas dedicated to burials and other rituals as well as zones used for habitation. Some of the most striking discoveries involved the unearthing of huge cemeteries such […]