1. Nok Culture
-Found in North central Nigeria off the edge of the Jos Plateau
The oldest known example of terracotta sculpture in Africa south of the Sahara
Dates from Before the Present (1000 BC AD)
-wide diversity of subject matter
With considerable variation in style, treatment and scale
Highly skilled in the creation of full-length human figures
-well organized social, political and religious structures
Art depicting images of dignitaries: rulers, priests and heroes
Iron working culture
With fragments of iron and beads recovered from furnaces

2. Style Elements -elaborate coiffure Cylindrical heads
Pierced eyes, nose, mouth, and ears
Semi-circular/triangular eyes and lids
Ears set back, often low and small
Flared nostrils

3. Map of Nigeria depicting the various ancient cultures

4. Head, BP
(500BC-200AD)
Terracotta

5. Jemaa Head,
Nok
2500 BP(500BC)
Terracotta

6. Figure of a warrior,
Nok,
Terracotta,
n/d

7. Composite of man/bird
a.k.a birdman
Terracotta
Nok
1750BP(250AD)

8. Janus faced statuette
Nok
Terracotta,
n/d

9. Crouching Pendant Statue,
Nok
Terraccotta
2250 BP(250BC)

10. Coiled snake, Nok, Terracotta, n/d

11. Titled Male Figure
Nok,
Terracotta
2450BP(450BC)

12. Female pillar statue,
Nok
Terracotta
2150BP(150BC)

13. Animal Imagery in the Nok corpus

14. Composite of man/bird
a.k.a birdman
Terracotta
Nok
1750BP(250AD)

15. Catfish or serpent, Nok, terracotta, 2300BP

16. Elephant, Nok, Terracotta, 2050BP

17. Elephanthead,
Nok,
Terracotta,
2500BP

18. Bust of a man with mudfish,
Nok,
Terracotta,
2250BP

19. Composite of man-leopard bust
Nok,
Terracotta,
2250 BP

20. Torso of a Lion Cub,
Nok,
Terracotta,
2400 BP

21. Statue on bended knee with Elephant and Feline,
Nok, Terracotta,
2350 BP

22. Seated Statue Holding a Feline,
Nok,
Terracotta,
2150 BP

23. Inland Niger Delta:
Djenne, Mali BP
(13th-15th century)

24. Map of West Africa depicting the major culture areas

25. The figurative sculptures have generalized rounded forms;
Style Elements:
The figurative sculptures have generalized rounded forms;
Heads are flattened elongated shapes that are tilted upward with
Bulging eyes and everted lips;
Some of the figures are clothed, with elaborate decorative patterns
and body art sometimes rendered in color
They exhibit a broad range of iconographic themes and subject matter
Including, maternity figures, equestrians, hunters, warriors and female figures
Depicted standing, seating, reclining or mounted on horseback
Other zoomorphic imagery include snakes, with or without humans
Connected with religious symbolism and agrarian and human fertility.
Some of the imagery might have represented legendary heroes,
and founding ancestors

26. Seated figure,
Djenne, Mali
Terracotta,
h.44.3cm

27. Archer figure,
Djenne, Mali
Terracotta,
h.61 cm (24 3/8 in.)

28. Horse and rider,
Djenne, Mali
Terracotta
H 44x17x30 cm

29. Bearded figure,
Djenne, Mali
Terracotta,
h cm

30. Kneeling figure with snake,
Djenne, Mali
Terracotta,
h.57 cm

31. Figure,
Djenne, Mali
Terracotta,
h.29.5 cm

32. Pair of figures,
Bankoni, Mali
Terracotta
h cm

33. Three pots, Bankoni, Mali terracotta, 54x22x22 cm

34. Ritual pot,
Djenne, Mali
terracotta

35. Ritual pot,
Djenne, Mali,
terracotta

36. Ritual pot,
Djenne, Mali,
terracotta

37. Standing figure,
Djenne, Mali
Bronze,
h.24 cm

38. Male figure,
Djenne, Mali
Iron, bronze
h cm

39. Royal ornament,
Djenne, Mali
Copper, brass
h.11.4 cm

40. Crest Mask,
Chiwara,
Bamana, Mali
Wood,
20th century