Unajua? – There is so much ancient West African art that may be hundreds (or even thousands) of years old buried underground.
Ancient West African art is made up of an uncountable amount artworks made by all sorts West African people throughout history.
Generally, pre colonial African art was not made as art but as objects used in the lives of Africans, but during and after colonialism it “became art” and was taken to museums around the western world, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met).
Learn more about West African art here
The Met is one of the largest museums in the world, it is located in the American city of New York and welcomes millions of visitors every year.
This article is all about famous ancient West African art in the Met museum.
You will read about the art, the people that made the art and the times and places in which they lived.
Taarifa 💡
Taarifa means information in Swahili. Under every “Taarifa” you can find information about the ancient West African artwork pictured above.
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13 Famous Ancient West African Artworks In The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
Before you get to reading..
In this article ancient West African art means West African artifacts made before colonialism.
Colonialism brought lasting change for peoples lives throughout the continent of Africa which is why it is usually used as a dividing point.
Most pre colonial African art was made as objects, sometimes for important and spiritual reasons but not always – many are simply a mystery (because of lost history).
Books about colonialism >>here
Benin Bronzes
#1 ancient West African artwork
Leopard Aquamanile
Aquamaniles like this one were often made in the shape of animals like the leopard. They were used to wash hands in royal Benin Kingdom ceremonies.
The leopard was an important symbol of power in the Benin Kingdom. It represented the Oba (the King) who actually had leopards in his court!
The Benin Kingdom was very powerful and existed for more than 600 years. Benin artists made beautiful objects that were kept in The Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin for hundreds of years.
Taarifa 💡
Title: Leopard Aquamanile Kingdom of Benin Medium: Brass Size: L. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm) Time Period: 16-19th century Country/region of origin: Nigeria, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
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#2 ancient West African artwork
Figure: Horn Player
After the British 1897 Punitive Expedition an important amount of art and history of the Benin Kingdom was lost.
Thousands of artifacts were taken to Britain. Altars, likely built in the 14th century, were destroyed and looted and the The Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin was burned to the ground.
Little is known about countless Benin artifacts like the one above. But they were usually made for the royal court of the Oba of Benin and used in religious ceremonies.
Oral traditions say that the lost-wax bronze casting method used in the Benin Kingdom came from the ancient Ife kingdom.
Taarifa 💡
Title: Figure: Horn Player Kingdom of Benin Medium: Brass, iron Size: H. 24 3/4 × W. 11 1/2 × D. 6 3/4 in. (62.9 × 29.2 × 17.2 cm) Time Period: 1550–1680 Country/region of origin: Nigeria, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
See images of African royalty outfits here <
Dogon Art
#3 ancient West African artwork
Seated couple
The size and complexity of this artifact make experts think that this it was made for the funerals of important Dogon men – it’s a mysterious artifact!
The artifact shows a united man and woman. Their long bodies are vertical while horizontal lines, like the seat and the man’s arm, join the couple together.
Seated couple – back
On the back of the artifact there is a small child on the woman’s back and an arrow case on the man’s back. Look at their hairstyles!
The Dogon people are famous for their art and architecture, like Kanaga masks and the Toguna. They are from the historically important Bandiagara Escarpment in Mali.
Taarifa 💡
Title: Seated Couple Culture: Dogon peoples Medium: Wood, copper and iron alloy, applied organic materials Size: H. 28 3/4 × W. 8 5/8 × D. 8 in. (73 × 21.9 × 20.3 cm) Time Period: 18th–19th century Country/region of origin: Bandiagara Escarpment, Mali, West Africa
Images courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
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Yoruba Sword
#4 ancient West African artwork
Ceremonial Sword (Udamalore)
This ivory sword is called an udamalore. It was made for important chiefs of Owo to be worn on the hip, to show the power of the chief at ceremonies and celebrations.
An udamalore is made with many details. The one above has a head on the knob designed with different patterns.
An Owo chief is carved on the blade, wearing ceremonial dress and an udamalore!
In his right hand he is holding a curved sword and there is a bird on his left hand pecking at his crown.
Taarifa 💡
Title: Ceremonial Sword (Udamalore) Culture: Yoruba peoples Medium: Ivory, wood or coconut shell inlay Size: W. 5 × D. 2 × L. 19 1/4 in. (12.7 × 5.1 × 48.9 cm) Time Period: 17th–19th century Country/region of origin: Nigeria, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
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Akan Gold Weight
#5 ancient West African artwork
Gold Weight: Chair
Akan gold weights were usually made out of brass and were used to weigh gold dust, which is what people used as money.
The weights are in shapes that represented Akan life and culture. For example this chair is an akonkromfi, it represents power, like the famous Ashanti Golden Stool.
Read on that Golden Stool’s War here
The Ashanti Kingdom (c.1701-1901) was an important Akan state known for its art that is still used today like the asesedwa and kente cloth.
Taarifa 💡
Title: Gold Weight: Chair Culture: Akan peoples Medium: Brass Size: H. 1 7/8 × W. 1 1/8 × D. 1 1/4 in. (4.8 × 2.9 × 3.2 cm) Time Period: 18th–19th century Country/region of origin: Ghana, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
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Lidded Saltcellar
#6 ancient West African artwork
Lidded saltcellar
This ivory saltcellar shows a mix of African and European art. At the time salt, and its friend pepper, were not cheap so they were often put in beautiful containers.
The Sapi were expert carvers of ivory that they sold to people like the Portuguese.
On this saltcellar are four snakes that seem to be fighting fierce dogs. It is a scene that fits both Sapi and Portuguese cultures.
Sapi is the name the Portuguese called the different people on the Sierra Leonean coast that are probably the ancestors of ethnic groups like the Temne and Bullom.
Taarifa 💡
Title: Lidded Saltcellar Culture: Temne or Bullom peoples Medium: Ivory Size: H. 11 3/4 x Diam. 4 1/4 in. (29.8 x 10.8 cm) Time Period: c. 1490–1530 Country/region of origin: Sierra Leone, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
Dahomey Art
#7 ancient West African artwork
Buffalo figure
This buffalo figure was owned by a ruler of the Dahomey Kingdom. The Buffalo was an important symbol of Dahomey.
Like the elephant it was important to the Dahomey King Guezo.
During celebrations, artifacts like the one above were used to show the wealth and power of the kingdom.
The Kingdom of Dahomey (c. 1600- 1904) was in the modern-day country of Benin* and is famous for its powerful all woman army – the Dahomey Amazons.
Taarifa 💡
Title: Buffalo Figure Kingdom of Dahomey (Fon people) Medium: Silver, iron, wood, copper alloy Size: H. 13 3/16 × W. 9 × D. 18 3/4 in. (33.5 × 22.9 × 47.6 cm) Time Period: 19th century Country/region of origin: Abomey, Republic of Benin, West Africa
*not to be confused with the Kingdom of Benin which was in neighbouring Nigeria.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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Djenne Terracotta
#8 ancient West African artwork
Seated figure
This artifact is one of the many found in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Djenné-Djenno in the Niger River Valley in Mali.
The artifacts from Djenné-Djenno are often terracotta sculptures, like the one above that were likely made nearly 1000 years ago.. their history is a mystery.
Djenné-Djenno is one of the oldest cities in Africa. People first settled in Djenne-Djenno in about 250 BC; it flourished in the 900s and ended around the 1400s.
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Taarifa 💡
Title: Seated Figure Culture: Middle Niger civilization Medium: Terracotta Size: H. 10 × W. 9 3/4 × D. 11 3/4 in. (25.4 × 24.8 × 29.8 cm) Time Period: 13th century Country/region of origin: Inland Niger Delta region, Mali, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
Bambara Sculpture
#9 ancient West African artwork
Gwantigi
Bamana artifacts like the one above were important parts of initiation society celebrations. This male leader would have been with a similar mother and child.
The man is wearing a hunter’s hat with animal horns and amulets. He’s holding a lance which were handed down from father to son at initiations.
He also has a hunting knife on his left arm, which is more common on older Bamana terracotta that date as far back as the 12th century.
The Bamana are famous for their beautiful art like the Chiwara and Ntomo masks.
Taarifa 💡
Title: Gwantigi Culture: Bamana peoples Medium: Wood Size: H. 35 1/2 in. × W. 9 in. × D. 13 1/2 in. (90.2 × 22.9 × 34.3 cm), lance 44 in. (111.8 cm) Time Period: 15th–17th century Country/region of origin: Bougouni region, Mali, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
West African Artifacts And Their Meaning
Nsodie
#10 ancient West African artwork
Memorial Head (Nsodie)
This terracotta memorial head, called a nsodie, was made for an Akan ruler.
Nsodies were made after the death of the ruler and were put in a cemetery, or asensie, along with other nsodies to honor the rulers and their family.
The Akan people also placed the sculptures of courtiers and servants near nsodies.
Taarifa 💡
Title: Memorial Head (Nsodie) Culture: Akan peoples Medium: Terracotta Size: H. 7 3/4 × W. 6 × D. 7 in. (19.7 × 15.2 × 17.8 cm) Time Period: c.1800 Country/region of origin: Ghana, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
Want to see what the Ashanti King wore, read: 25 Beautiful African Royalty Outfits
Sapi Head
#11 ancient West African artwork
Figure: Head
The original use and meaning of such artifacts is mostly unknown (another mystery).
The hair, scarifications and filed teeth show that the sculpted person was either rich, important or both.
Ancient West African art like this head gives us some information about the ancient West African people. Many of them have been found by Kissi and Mende farmers!!
Taarifa 💡
Title: Figure: Head Culture: Temne or Bullom peoples Medium: Steatite Size: H. 10 3/16 x W. 8 1/2 x D.14 1/4 in. (26 x 21.6 x 36.2 cm) Time Period: 16th century Country/region of origin: Sierra Leone, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
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Lower Niger Bronze Industry
#12 ancient West African artwork
Figure: Male Warrior
The Lower Niger Bronze Industry is a term used for ancient metal sculptures, like this warrior, from the Niger Valley and not from the Kingdoms of Benin or Ife.
Not all Lower Niger Bronzes are from the same time and places, some are thought to be from the Igbo-Igala area.
Scientists discovered that many Lower Niger Bronzes date as far back as the 14th century, but so much is still a mystery. bars
Taarifa 💡
Title: Figure: Male Warrior Culture: Lower Niger Bronze Industry Medium: Coppy alloy Size: H. 10 1/8 in. × W. 5 3/8 in. × D. 11 in. (25.7 × 13.7 × 27.9 cm) Time Period: 15th–19th century Country/region of origin: Lower Niger River region, Nigeria, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
West African Artifacts And Their Meaning
#13 ancient West African artwork
Figure: Equestrian
Lower Niger Bronzes show that copper-alloy casting was “common” in modern-day southern Nigeria and not only done in the Kingdoms of Benin and Ife.
The artifact of the warrior above, that is on a horse, has similar traits to Benin Bronzes, like the scarification, skirt and leopard’s-tooth necklace with a bell.
There are holes on the bottom of the artifact that were maybe used to attach it to a larger structure.
Taarifa 💡
Title: Figure: Equestrian Culture: Lower Niger Bronze Industry Medium: Bronze Size: H. 12 1/2 × W. 8 3/4 × D. 6 3/4 in. (31.8 × 22.2 × 17.1 cm) Time Period: 1455–1640 Country/region of origin: Lower Niger River region, Nigeria, West Africa
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET). Public Domain.
Continue reading, friend
THINK ABOUT IT! What does pre colonial art look like where you are?
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References
“Akan Artist | Memorial Head (Nsodie) | Akan | the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2015, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/320598.
“Buffalo Figure.” Metmuseum.org, 2023, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/318416.
“Ceremonial Sword (Udamalore).” Metmuseum.org, 2021, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/316590.
“Dahomey.” Wikipedia, 5 Nov. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahomey.
“Edo Artist | Leopard Aquamanile | Edo.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/316524.
“Figure: Equestrian | Lower Niger Bronze Industry | the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/312536. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
“Figure: Male Warrior | Lower Niger Bronze Industry.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/310257.
“Figure: Seated Couple.” Metmuseum.org, 2020, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/310325.
“Gold Weight: Chair | Akan Peoples | the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/317684. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
“Leopard Aquamanile | Edo Peoples | the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2016, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/316530. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
“Lidded Saltcellar.” Metmuseum.org, 2020, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/316442.
“Seated Figure.” Metmuseum.org, 2020, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/314362.
“Seated Male Figure with Lance | Bamana Peoples.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/314704.
“Temne or Bullom Artist(S) | Figure: Head | Temne or Bullom | the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/310813. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Wikipedia Contributors. “Akan Goldweights.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Apr. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_goldweights.
—. “Djenné-Djenno.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Aug. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djenn%C3%A9-Djenno.
—. “Kingdom of Benin.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Jan. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Benin.
—. “Lower Niger Bronze Industries.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Feb. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Niger_Bronze_Industries .
—. “Sapi-Portuguese Ivory Spoon.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Jan. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapi-Portuguese_Ivory_Spoon.
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