Part 2: Islamization of Africa. Oct 6: Visual Culture

Transcription

1 Part 2: Islamization of Africa Oct 6: Visual Culture

2 Praying West African Desert (left) East African Mosque (below) [see Call to Prayer, Prayer, Additional Readings]

3 Praying Most immediate and memorable image of African Muslim societies is Prayer. Prayers take place five times a day. Everywhere you hear a call to prayer Everywhere people stop what they re doing to pray. A prayer mat is unrolled, prayer takes place 10 minutes later, it s business as usual. It is also public. For the Friday prayer, shops close. Huge crowds men dressed in white pray often outside the mosque (which is full).

4 Caligraphy [see Caligraphy in Islamic Art, Additional Readings] Seen in many buildings as Decoration usually sura From the Qur an (North African examples)

5 Caligraphy Learning Tablet (19 th c. early 20 th c. Mali) Teaching of letter formation often took place on wooden tablets. From letters to copying out sura from the Qur an was Natural progression for children.

6 Qur an [see Sultan Baybar s Quran, Additional Readings} Children learning, reciting Quran (often in public spaces) Quranic sura decorate buildings, wall hangings, ceramics Qur an (book) often work of art

7 Dress East Africa (left) North Africa (right)

8 Dress East Africa (left) North Africa (right)

9 Dress Saharan Tuareg (Berber) (left) Northern Nigeria Fulani (right)

10 Architecture: Mosques Algeria Niger Mali (Timbuktu)

11 Architecture: Mosques Burkino Fassa Mali (Jenne)

12 Architecture: Mosques Almohad Tunisia (Kairouan) Morocco (Marrakesh, Almoravid)

13 Architecture: Tombs Sidi Mhammad al-wilda (Morocco) Sidi Mogdul Morocco

14 Tombs Funerary Stela Algeria (n.d.)

15 Amulets West Africa (various) most metal or metal and leather

16 Amulets Tuareg ( Berber, Saharan) metal and leather (silver, copper)

17 Amulets In much of West Africa amulets are used for healing, protection and problem solving: - often include esoteric writing - sacred verses are worn in small leather [sometimes metal] pouches placed around the neck, upper arm or waist. - Specific colors are used in conjunction with the mystical powers with which they are associated. - Abstract designs and special arrangements of numbers are also used, creating mystical maps to the divine. [see Robinson]. Today, some have become model for jewellery (eg Tuareg amulets)

18 Amulets Arabic Script and Berber Symbols reproduced on Plates North African Museum

19 Amulets Important to remember: - use of amulets, divination ancient practice - NOT exclusive to Muslim Societies - but these examples show how pre-islamic practices become integral to living a Muslim life - the holy men of animist religions (eg Berber) become the Muslim scholars who now write the magic protection from within Islam Cannot automatically associate all amulets with Islam (still used in some areas where Islam not present) but in all African Muslim societies, they are prominent in daily life

20 Amulets Hand of Fatma (Morocco and North Africa)

21 Amulets Hand of Fatima (daughter of Prophet Mohamed) - ancient symbol representing power and protection, on temporal as well as spiritual planes. - the hand works, it creates, it guides, it protects... - symbol is also known as khamsa and the Eye of Fatima in Islamic tradition. - Hand of Fatima made in form of talisman, amulet, jewellry - also appears in architectural details. - preedatesislam but has been widely assimilated into Islamic art and popular culture [like much of pre-islamic culture, visual and otherwise]. - also seen to have symbolic link to the number 5 : five fingers, the five pillars of Islam

22 Ramadan Egyptian Woman (Garia Mohammed Bayoumi 77), chants religious songs as Egyptians peer out of their balconies in old Cairo, Egypt, early Monday, Sept. 6, Bayoumi is a "Mesaharati" who wakes faithful Muslims for their prayers and predawn meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

23 Festivals: Eid - Emir of Kano, Northern Nigeria celebrating Eid (2009) Common sight: young man with sheep Eid al-fatir (end of Ramadan) and Eid al-adha (dedicated to Ibrahim, 70 days after end Ramadan) both require ritual slaughtering of sheep Ibadan (southern Nigeria) man with Knife for Ritual Slaughter Sheep