waecE-LEARNING
Visual Art Paper 1, Nov/Dec. 2010  
Questions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Main
General Comments
Strength
Weakness/Remedies
Question 5
  1. Chiwara
  2. N'tomo
  3. Nomoli
  4. Bundu
    Write notes on any three of the above art forms under:
    (i)location;
    (ii) medium;
    (iii) function;
    (iv) characteristics.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

observation

Very few candidates attempted this question and they responded poorly by mixing up the points, thus loosing obtainable marks.
Candidates' responses were expected to highlight some of the following points:
a. CHIWARA
Location: Found among the Bambara people of Mali.
Medium:Wood
Function:

  • They are used for agricultural rites to ensure bumper harvest.
  • They are worn by two dancers performing ceremonial tilling
    of the land, which marks the beginning of the planting season.
  • They bring about cooperation among all members of the community.
    Characteristics:
    • helmet mask joined to basket cap.
    • a representation of an antelope head with elongated horns surmounting the head.
    • raffia covering for the body.
    • the rest ofthe body stylized in geometric forms.
b. NTOMO
Location:Bambara, in Mali.
Medium:Wood.
Function:
  • it is used for puberty initiation for boys.
  • boys between ages 7 and 12 join the Ntomo Society.
  • it teaches them good behaviour and protects them from danger.

    Characteristics:

    • the masks are semi-abstract and semi-naturalistic.
    • they ate covered with cowry shells.
    • they are decorated with blood-red seeds or shinning brass.
    • they are oval shaped.
    • they are partitioned into a curved plane of the forehead and nose.
    • above the face is a female figure flanked with four vertical horns-
c. NOMOLI
Location: Mende, of Sierra-Leone.
Medium: Soap Stone
Function: .
  • used for agricultural purposes.
  • they are placed in rice fields for successful harvest. If the figures fail in this function, they are beaten.

    Characteristics:

    • they have small conical head.
    • they have round phallic body.
    • they have disproportionate head.
    • the breasts are enlarged.
    • they are made into a crouching position.
d. BUNDU
Location:Mende, Sierra Leone.
Medium: Wood,
Funtion:
Used in initiation ceremony for girls.
Characteristics:
  • helmet mask with female reproductive features.
  • high bulging forehead.
  • small delicate face.
  • straight and small nose.
  • tightly~ closed lips, close to the edge of the face.
  • small closed eyes represented by slits.
  • face decorated with incised geometric designs.
  • the hair style is arranged into a heavy crest and adorned with emblems.
  • ring-like bulges for the neck as a sign of beauty and prosperity.
    smooth surface, painted black and polished.
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