Every option holds a different meaning and significance to its tribe or sub-group.Ĭlearly, African prints have so much significance. You will find variations of patterns and colors in all the common African patterns-Kuba cloth, Mudcloth, Kente Cloth. Red is usually used to represent trouble in spirituality or the political world.The artists use it in the hope of a prosperous life. Gold usually represents wealth or fertility.It is usually reserved for the purest people or circumstances. White symbolizes spirituality and purity.While there might be a bit of difference depending on the culture, mainly the following colors have similar meanings. Even color variations hold meaning depending on the tribes and subgroups of the culture. Color has a lot of significance in African cloth as well.Īfrican people ensure that there is meaning or spirituality behind each work. Chequerboard black or white triangles/ squares represent ignorance and the beginning of learning and accumulating wisdom, respectively.īut, it’s not only the patterns that rule African art. Using parallel zigzags is about following the path of ancestors.Let’s understand this more with the following examples. So, whether you see an african rug, a clothing fabric, or a sculpture, whatever shape they’ll include will have a meaning behind its inclusion in the pattern. It could be anything from animal prints or humans related to critical events. The idea is to communicate feelings, knowledge, and feelings. Some might have proverbial meaning, while others might signify the wisdom of the tribe. They are like visual expressions of any society’s culture, its beliefs, and history. For instance, bold patterns, either painted or etched, are quite an integral component of African mask design.īesides the geometric patterns, symbols also hold great importance in African patterns. But still, many are passing down this traditional heritage from generation to generation. Sadly, a lot of the meaning and historical significance got lost in the modern era. You name it, and you’ll find an example right away. Geometric shapes of diamonds or diamonds are the most common shape that can be painted, incised, printed, or embroidered. For instance, chevrons and zigzags are primarily part of every form and facet of African decoration. If you see historic buildings, you’ll find a lot of geometrical variations in a repetitive order. Most patterns used in African art are either geometric or symbolic. For centuries, art was greatly influenced by the environment and natural surroundings. Africa is usually known for its individual art. In this article, we’ve rounded up briefly about African patterns.Īfrican Patterns- Decoding The Story Behind itĭo you remember Adinka robes worn by Ashanti men? The fabric has various patterns that have symbolic significance. If you take a drive anywhere in this place, you’ll find patterns on the decorated houses, road stalls usually defined by color and shape. Besides being visually engaging, patterns are quite an innate thing in Africa. In fact, everywhere you look, you’ll see repetitions of shapes, colors, textures, and lines in all sorts of arrangements. Africa is a land of culturally rich heritage and a wealth of patterns.
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