Question

How do the various artifacts underscore the importance of symbolism in West Africa’s medieval societies? Why do you think artisans took great care in fashioning these relics?

Answer 1

Like the pyramid of Giza, west africans and Blacks in the African continent were so obsessed with any form of identity from sculpture, drawings, images that each community actually branded persons to, among other reasons, identity with that community. My university, one of the best in my country still has a sculpture of the YORUBA God, Ododuwa, just before you get into campus even admits the vast infiltration of christianity and Islam. I could go on and on and on. Initially, all African art objects were viewed as ethnographic specimens like drawn images of famous men and men but as time progresses people just weren't satisfied so they contrived any kind of identification because they had wars, inter-community strife, and more. The importance of artifacts to the black community until the late 20 century can not be overemphasized. It was a kind of lifeblood because everyone wants to, and had to identify with something because of the prevailing conditions then.