Islam and Tribal Art in West Africa

A detailed examination of the impact of Islam upon traditional art forms in African society.

René A. Bravmann (Author)

9780521297912, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 7 February 1980

208 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.31 kg

Most writers have assumed that the spread of the Islamic faith has tended to weaken and undermine the foundations of traditional African society and culture. In this interesting and original study Professor Bravmann re-examines and refutes the assumption that the aniconic attitudes of Islam, especially the prohibition of representational imagery, have had a detrimental effect on the visual arts in the areas of West Africa influenced by this universalistic faith. The strength and flexibility of West African societies and their art forms is clearly revealed in the major part of this study, which is devoted to a detailed examination of the impact of Islam upon traditional art in the Cercle de Bondoukou and west central areas of Ghana. The text is illustrated with numerous photographs showing a variety of art forms and masquerades in the region.

List of maps
List of plates
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. The Islamisation of West Africa
2. Muslim dogma concerning representational art
3. The syncretic nature of Islam: the survival of traditional art forms
4. History of the Muslim Mande in the Cercle de Bondoukoou and west central Ghana
5. Muslim relationships with traditional art in the Cercle de Bondoukou and west central Ghana
6. The Bedu masking tradition
7. The Gbain masking tradition
8. The Do masking tradition
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC]