The culture of African peoples is very diverse, as is the continent itself. The richness of cultural heritage is manifested in music, literature, art. It is with its interesting traditions that Africa attracts many tourists. This article will talk about African patterns, ornaments and motifs.
What do African symbols mean?
Every African family has fabrics with a wide variety of patterns for all occasions. Now few people can read these patterns, but each of them means something. In the interweaving of lines, colors and shadows, words, proverbs and even whole poems are encrypted. Signs in their entirety form a whole system. In the old days, fabrics with prints could only afford crowned persons. Over time, African patterns spread throughout West Africa. Today, almost everyone can afford to buy fabrics with special characters. Vibrant colors came into fashion.
Among the peoples of the Akan group living in the central regions of Ghana, a system of special characters is used, each of which means something. Here is some of them:
- "Palm". It means wealth, flexibility, vitality and self-sufficiency.
- "Heart". It is a symbol of patience. Among African peoples, it is believed that only that person can be tolerant who has a heart.
- "Crocodile". This sign indicates adaptability. This is due to the fact that the crocodile lives in water, but at the same time breathes air, i.e. he adapts to various external conditions.
- "The moon and the star." It characterizes love, harmony and fidelity in the relationship between a man and a woman.
African patterns on the body
African ornaments were widely used to decorate various parts of the body. Each drawing 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.
Of great importance was the color of the picture. For example, in Central Africa, the red color symbolized life and health. Healers often painted 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 specific age. For example, when a boy became a boy, he was allowed to use yellow.
Fabric Patterns
Tribes living in West Africa waxed cotton material. After it hardens, a specific pattern was scratched on the fabric surface. After that, the cut with wax fell into boiling paint. At high temperature, the wax melted, and the material acquired 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 motives in the interior
African style is not only manifested in patterns on the body and tissues. Considerable popularity among adventure lovers enjoys the African style in interior design.
It involves the use in the design of a room of such colors as terracotta, yellow, sand and red. Leather furniture, clay objects, fur harmoniously fit into the image. A highlight that complements the overall look are various trophies, African patterns, ritual masks and paintings, for example, depicting the inhabitants of the savannah. This style allows you to give free rein to imagination in the design of the interior.