African mythology is one of the most interesting and underrated origin stories to have ever existed. Africa is such a big continent with over 1000 ethnic communities each with their own origin stories. Of course, because there are different parts of the continent; West Africa, East Africa, and South Africa, there are specific features that spread across the different regions. Artists today continue to hone and embrace African mythology in their works. In this article, we will talk about common beliefs across different regions. Furthermore, we will also highlight different artists that are influenced by African mythology in their different works.
West Africa
West Africa is home to some of the best cuisines in the world, amazing seafood, and rich traditions and culture. There are several differences within the continent. For instance, the distance between an East African professional. One admirably trait is their bravery and overall machismo. This pays homage to their origin story that involves the presence of spirits and a supreme being who spirits the power to create beings like themselves. Despite one of the spirits (according to Yoruba mythology) getting drunk, he still managed to create beings like himself. Human beings therefore embody spirit-like characters for instance bravery, the ability to create, healing powers, and the like. West Africans believe in their ‘god-like’ characteristics which have made them stand out in everything that they do.
West African artists today not only walk tall (like the gods they are) but continue to tell this story in their works today. Artists like Ade Okelarin and Laolu Senbanjo examine the art of the Yoruba culture. In his late series, “New World Giants” Ade Okelarin examines the symbolic representation of the African diaspora story. He uses the trans of the Egun masquerade in West Africa to the Moko Jumbie through the transatlantic slave trade. These metaphors provide a juxtaposition of his culture and the British culture, subject to the transatlantic slave trade. His exhibit ended on 29th April but you can still check it out on the Gagosian Gallery website.
Image courtesy of Gagosian Gallery
East Africa
East African mythology revolves around the interconnectivity between nature, animals, and humans. Most East Africans believe that everything in nature is interconnected and Humans, are just a part of nature. In other cultures, they attributed similar characteristics to the sun and the supreme being. They also believed in the spiritual significance of animals just as humans and nature, as the cycles of life in humans are just the same in plants and animals. The East African origin story starts with two human-like creatures “coming out of something”, often the earth. Plants, trees, a mythical leg, a hole, etc as denoted by the Bantu ethnic community. These human-like creatures who were male and female took part in creation through procreation as instructed by their gods, to fill the earth.
There are a few things to note here; the presence of a supreme deity. In East African culture, humans are just mortal beings whose only job was to procreate, fill the earth and enjoy what the Gods have to offer. Just like any other creature created by the Gods. This further explains the humble nature of the East African ethnic groups who strongly view themselves as part of the natural way of the Gods.
East African artists today still explore and embrace the free-flowing, fate-like manner of nature in their works. Artists such as Wangechi Mutu explores this interconnected nature of humans as part of nature as a whole. In an interview with Art 21, she explains her process of creating. “the soil, has become important for me in this Nairobi Studio because I identify with the soil’. ‘It is the soil that I remember from my childhood”, she adds. The color of the soil, the feeling, the texture, the way it behaves when it’s dry and when it’s wet.
Mixed media collage on Mylar 42 × 30 in | 106.7 × 76.2cm
Image courtesy of Wangechi Mutu Instagram
“I get to capture the essence of the soil, the malleability, the color, the crispiness, the malleability, the granular aspects. These are very important for me in my work”, says Wangechi.
South Africa
South African origin contains a mixture of Western and East African mythology. Some cultures like the Zulu (Bantu ethnicity) acknowledge the presence of a supreme deity who emerged from the roots.
Other cultures believed in the significance of heavenly bodies, such as the stars and the moon, and attributed similar characteristics to their supreme being, like that of the sun, subject to different spirits. They heavily believed in the afterlife. The Xhosa community believed that the supreme being, Qamata sent ancestors to guide humans through life. Spiritual guides resembling ancestors resided in the second dimension to aid humans on Earth.
Image courtesy of The New York Times
Nevertheless, for artists such as Nandipha Mntambo, switching mediums was not an easy thing. She often uses cowhides to symbolize how women were sold as cows during slavery. She recently started examining different animals including the mythology of the snake subject to the female character.
However, these are but a few artists who incorporate elements of African mythology and spirituality in their work. African artists ooze out culture in everything that they do. As Africans continue to pave the way forward, in the art ecosystem, it is certain the influence of their history can be found within the creation of their pieces. w
