African patterns, ornaments and motifs

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

The culture of African peoples is very diverse, like the continent itself. The richness of cultural heritage is manifested in music, literature and art. It is with its interesting traditions that Africa attracts many tourists. This article will focus on African patterns, ornaments and motifs.

What do African symbols mean

Every African family has fabrics with a variety of patterns for all occasions. Now few people can read these patterns, but each of them means something. Words, proverbs and even entire poems are encrypted in the interweaving of lines, colors and shadows. Signs in their totality form a whole system. In the old days, only the crowned heads could afford fabrics with seals. Over time, African patterns spread throughout West Africa. Today, almost everyone can afford to buy fabrics with special symbols. Materials of bright colors have come into fashion.

Among the peoples of the Akan group living in the central regions of Ghana, a system of specialsymbols, each of which means something. Here are some of them:

• "Palm". Means we alth, flexibility, resilience and self-sufficiency.
• "Heart". This is a symbol of patience. African peoples believe that only that person can be tolerant who has a heart.
• Crocodile. This sign denotes the ability to adapt. This is due to the fact that the crocodile lives in water, but at the same time breathes air, i.e. it adapts to various external conditions.
• "Moon and star". Characterizes love, harmony and fidelity in relations between a man and a woman.

African patterns on the body

African ornaments were widely used to decorate various parts of the body. Each pattern applied to the skin had its own meaning and power. Ritual ornaments, for example, protected a person from evil spirits. A special ornament was also used to protect the warrior from arrows and other dangers. African patterns also testified to the social status of a person.

The color of the picture was also of great importance. For example, in Central Africa, red symbolized life and he alth. Healers often decorated the body of a sick person with red patterns so that he would be healed as soon as possible. White color was a symbol of connection with the world of spirits, and also meant purity of thoughts and friendliness. Certain colors were allowed to be applied to the body only after reaching a certain age. For example, a boy, when he became a young man, was allowed to use the color yellow.

Patterns on fabric

Tribes living in West Africa applied wax to cotton material. After it solidified, a certain pattern was scratched out on the fabric surface. After that, the wax cut was dipped into the boiling paint. At high temperatures, the wax melted, and the material took on a pattern.

African ornaments and patterns on fabrics had a certain meaning. In Nigeria, images of lizards enclosed in geometric shapes were especially popular. Moorish ornaments used images of animals, people, as well as ritual masks.

African motifs in the interior

African style is manifested not only in patterns on the body and fabrics. African style in interior design is quite popular among adventure lovers.

It involves the use of colors such as terracotta, yellow, sand and red in the design of the room. Leather furniture, clay items, fur harmoniously fit into the image. And the highlight that complements the overall look are various trophies, African patterns, ritual masks and paintings, for example, depicting the inhabitants of the savannas. This style allows you to give free rein to your imagination when decorating the interior.