| Yoruba Art | | | | the material of choice. Designs are often made to |
| Africa is a continent that is rich in tradition, | | | | represent birds, flowers, and faces. In |
| history, and still maintains a sense of the | | | | contemporary Yoruba art, the men also create |
| mysterious. Throughout the centuries, its diverse | | | | the woodcarvings. Woodcarving is considered to |
| and creative people have made some of the | | | | be the most important art form. Most of the |
| most unique and beautiful pieces of art the world | | | | cultures sacred objects are carved from wood. |
| has ever seen. Regardless of the medium chosen, | | | | Both genders of Yoruba society take care of |
| African art depicts the fascinating culture from | | | | making the textiles. Over the years, several |
| which it came. In the case of Yoruba art, this | | | | different types of looms have been invented to |
| African tradition is continued and embraced. While | | | | vary the texture and type of cloth produced. |
| staying true to the practices of their ancestors, | | | | Cotton and wild silk are woven into beautiful, |
| artists today still make amazing examples of | | | | colorful cloth to be used for clothing and other |
| beadwork, sculpture, and textiles, as well as | | | | needs. This Yoruba art form is dyed using the |
| metalwork and woodcarving.masterpiece. Over | | | | native plant indigo. The weavers are incredibly |
| time, this form of Yoruba art continued to be | | | | skilled at creating thousands of unique patterns in |
| perfected and resulted in some of the finest | | | | the same manner as their ancestors. |
| examples of ancient African life. | | | | Modern Yoruba art can be described as a widely |
| Most societies have traditional gender roles and | | | | diverse art form. From the beadwork to the |
| the Yoruba people had their set, gender-specific | | | | woodcarvings, the Yoruba people have crafted |
| roles as well. The women are responsible for | | | | many works of art to reflect their life in Western |
| crafting their stunning pottery. This tradition is still | | | | Africa. |
| practiced in Yoruba life. Pottery is a thriving | | | | Mr. Moyo Ogundipe has a Bachelors of Arts |
| business industry as not all towns have access to | | | | degree in Fine Art from the University of Ife, |
| clay, and those that dont purchase their pottery | | | | Ile-Ife, Nigeria and a Master of Fine Art degree in |
| from neighboring villages. That makes thepottery | | | | Painting from The Hoffberger School of Painting, |
| a very lucrative form oftraditional Yoruba art. Of | | | | Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, USA. |
| course some of the pottery made has functional | | | | One of Africas most celebrated and renowned |
| purposes, like cooking, storage, and eating vessels. | | | | modern Yoruba artists, Mr. Ogundipe has exhibited |
| Others are made for ceremonial purposes and are | | | | extensively in Africa, Europe and the USA. His |
| make in honor of the gods. The Yoruba women | | | | paintings have been described as hypnotic, colorful |
| are also known for their well-crafted palm oil | | | | and densely patterned. |
| lamps. | | | | In 1996, Mr. Ogundipe was awarded the |
| While the women are responsible for the pottery, | | | | Pollock-Krasner Fellowship. And in 2005 he was |
| the men have the honor of producing the intricate | | | | invited to become a member of Africobra, an |
| beadwork that is such a large part of Yoruba art. | | | | organization founded in the 1960s and whose |
| The men craft items like cushions, sandals, and | | | | membership comprises of distinguished |
| bags. Skins from antelope, sheep, and goats are | | | | African-American artists. |