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Daniels Gallery

Art of West Africa

Daniels Gallery: African Art

The Mead's collection of African art includes over 300 objects made in the 20th century by the Yoruba, Luba, Kuba and other peoples for various religious, community, and domestic purposes. This gallery features examples of ritual objects from these and nearby peoples. It includes carved rubbing implements and beaded accessories used by diviners, which illustrate the artistry of their makers and the spiritual beliefs of their communities. The small, carved figures [ibeji] in their beaded regalia exemplify Yoruba effigy pairs of deceased twins, of more than forty in the collection. Examples of the nearly 100 textiles are displayed on a rotating basis, featuring woven raffia skirts of the Kuba and indigo-dyed cotton [adire] cloth and performance garments of the Yoruba