Book research...Africa Adorned Angela Fisher...

Treasures of Benin:

The image of this mask is called Benin Ivories. The mask has been represented exquisitely for four centuries. The masks were carried out by patronage of the Oba. A few masks were made especially for him. One of the most famous masks is the ivory belt mask. The meaning behind the masks is that the marks on the top of the head represent an early stage of Benin art. It was the style of tiaras in the head, and they were an art before the European contract. It was also a Portuguese influence; it showed curves after the 16^th centaury.

            The mask supposedly belonged to King Eslgie. It is said that he most likely portrayed his mother and that he wore the mask during the commemorative rites which was after her death. Nowadays Oba wears 5-6 masks a replicas of the masks during the ceremonies.

I really like this image, because it is different to from all the other cultures have looked at.
I like this image because the have paled her face down and enhanced the whiteness around her eyes
and them there are spots of gold around the nose and eye area.  

A show of wealth:
The tribe Dinka, often wear old glass beads such as ivory the necklace is a wedding necklace, and it
represent's wealth of the 'Bridegroom's family' sometimes the groom does not have enough strands but he will
have to them for the his family to wear at the wedding. 

Patterns of identity:
The Tospa tribe, it is there tradition is to have lower teeth extracted, this is to make the teeth and the
upper jaw produce unnaturally. The reason for them doing this is so that they resemble a cow. 

Samburu Vanity:
Samburu girls are meant to wear a lot of loose beads. The beads are given to the girls as a gift
from there admirers. By the age15/16 the girls should have enough beads around there neck to get
an invite of proposal of marriage. Samburu men believe that if women don't have enough beads unless there chins are supported by them. 

1,       2,                     3 
Akan Wealth: 

Image 1: 
 Akan fashion was based on wearing brozne and gold necklaces. The blue part incorporating glass beads which have been imported from Holland, in the 19th century. 
Image 2: 
Baoule Brass beads are made from fine wax, waxed threads they can be very detailed they also tend to have geometric shapes on them. The Baoule beads are well associated with history and culture with in the Asante, they were also influenced by the angular design which comes from North Africa. 
Image 3: 
 The Akan necklace is very expensive this is because they are made from glass beads which have come from the venetian origin. They are made from brass pendants and bells and they also have gold nuggets as the centrepiece of the necklace. 

Proud Mothers:
This image is of a women, watching her son prepare to go off to become a warrior.
 All women shave there heads, they do this also to attract attention to the colourful jewellery on
their heads. Each women shave's there own head. The collar around her neck is made from beads, threads and wire which is spaced with strips of a cow-hide.

The blue bead's is a symbol that the women are married. only married women are allowed to wear them. They
are called married "Nborro 'Massi say that Blue beads are 'God' as they are the colour
of the sky he inhabits. The green beads are 'Vegetarian after rainfall the symbol of peace.' The long beaded ear flaps are also a symbol of a married Massi women, men say that women should never
be seen without them.

 Fisher,A- Africa Adorned