In the 13th and 14th centuries, the great African empires of Mali, Ghana, and Songhai flourished in the Inland Niger Delta, an area formed by a huge bend in the Niger River. The fabled cities of Timbuktu and Djenne were the important trading centers of Mali.

Warrior Figure

European contacts with West African go back to the 16th century when the Portuguese established trading posts on the west coast of Africa. These early contacts resulted in a thriving trade in gold and ivory. The intervention of Portuguese soldiers equipped with firearms empowered a number of African kings to consolidate their kingdoms in the early 16th century.

Knife Case	Asafo Flag

Contact with the spirit world where ancestors reside in an important part of African culture. These figures provide a physical place for the spirits to materialize in this world.

Standing Woman	Figure
Male and Female Masks

Idealized female figures with their large breasts and wide hips represent the essential strength, vitality, and fertility of women.

Standing Female Figure	Female Figure

Animals were keenly observed in traditional African art and are shown not only for their beauty and ornamental quality but also for their potent symbolism. For example, in ancient Benin only kings could hunt a leopard because, as king of beasts, this animal was a metaphor for the very institution of kingship.

Headrest	Helmet Mask

African musical instruments are frequently decorated with human and animal forms. Instruments were important prestige items in the royal courts of central Africa. Magnificent effigy harps were owned by kings, diviners, and oral historians who participated in elaborate court dances.

Harp	Slit Drum