The African Wheel: Traditional African Arts and Crafts

African Art has something very special about it.well as individual, much more in the line of African
African art has not changed dramatically from thearts and crafts than the machine woven or dyed
Stone Age till today and this shows in thecloth that is prevalent in western societies.
traditional designs of every type of art, be itThe creation of African Masks dates way back
African masks, African fabrics, African musicalinto history and some have been know to have
instruments, African ladies Handbags, Africanbeen created further back in time than the
carvings and in fact all manner of African art andPaleolithic era. Generally created from wood,
crafts.African masks are also manufactured using
It is not that symbolic African arts and crafts areleather, metal and fabric. They are highly prized
only desirable in Africa; this art form has aand sought after today as art pieces but the
following worldwide. Art appreciators understandoriginal intention for them was for ceremonial
that the creation of African masks and Africanpurposes. The African mask traditionally
musical instruments have a specific legacy.represents a god or spirit and the wearer was
Methods for the creation of these items of anbelieved to be possessed by the spirit
artistic nature have been passed down by wordrepresented by the mask.
of mouth from father to son and mother toWhile African ladies handbags might be believed
daughter for eons. The principle for the creationby some to be a more contemporary art form,
of these pieces has been for spiritual as well asthey have in fact a very rich history. Although
practical purposes.more traditionally worn by males. Generally worn
Traditional African fabrics are generally createdhidden under clothing to contain the proceeds of
using the batik method; this essentially means thatan unattainable task in order to win the heart of
the fabrics have been printed with designs using atheir beloved.
hand dying method. Making the fabrics unique as