African Art History: rock carvings

Historical African Art

Through the history of African art we can see the enthusiasm and energy each generation has successfully nurtured it with. Some evidence dates back to as much as 6,000 years ago. This evidence consists of rock carvings and paintings in a country in southern Africa, Namibia.

The San people (also known as Bushmen) were the primitive hunter-gatherers in (southern) Africa. They believed in the importance and power of the shamans (mystical men with magical powers) and these beliefs were presented in their artwork.

In Namibia, a site called Twyfelfontein is home to historical rock engravings. It has been occupied for 6,000 years, first by the san people and then by the ‘Khoikhoi herders’. It was a place of worship for both of the ethnic groups, and during the process of carrying out ‘shamanist rituals’, some 2,500 rock carvings and rock paintings have been created.

The most popular of these engravings are known as the lion man, giant giraffe and a dancing kudu.

From left to right; giant giraffe, lion man (with a hand for a tail), other scattered small animals.

The dancing kudu.

African Art History. 2013 [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.all-about-african-art.com/african-art-history.html

Bushmen – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013 [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushmen