Question 3
- Highlight three beliefs that motivated the production of indigenous art in West Africa.
- Explain the emphasis on sculpture in traditional West African art.
Observation
The question was popular among the candidates and most of the candidates performed fairly in this question. The following points were given by the candidates to obtain the maximum marks:
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- Belief in a supreme being (God) that has the ultimate controlling power over the affairs of the universe.
- Belief that things in nature, e.g. trees, mountains and the sky have soul and consciousness – (animism).
- Belief in lesser (nature) deities who take charge of various aspects of life such as rain, fertility, wind, sun, sickness, fortune, misfortune, etc.
- Belief in the meditating power of ancestors between the people and the supreme being.
- Belief in life after death (reincarnation).
- Belief that all the deities can affect man positively or negatively, depending on his action or inaction.
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- Traditional West African arts were created for religious and utilitarian purposes, which sculptures were found to be most appropriate.
- The traditional Africans needed to create an environment for peaceful relationship between him and the deities through rituals – shrine decoration.
- There was the need to create an abode for the spirit of the ancestors though which man can reach the supreme being and the deities.
- West African needed to create sculptural figures to provide abode for the spirit of the ancestors.
- West Africans created masks to invoke the spirits of the ancestors periodically or when the need arises.
- West Africans sculptures for their household e.g. stools, furniture, carved doors.