As the birthplace of humanity, it’s no wonder Africa is also home to the world’s oldest known artworks. African art spans many thousands of years, from ancient rock paintings to modern stone and wood sculptures. Styles vary as widely as the people who created them and come in a variety of mediums. While wood is the most common material used today, most prominent, historical African tribal artifacts are made of one of these three materials. 

What Materials & Styles Are Often Used in African Art?

1. Clay

The earliest known sculptures come from the Nok people of Nigeria and date from 500 BCE to 200 CE. These terracotta pottery pieces, made from grog and iron-rich clay, exemplify abstract figural representation. The pots depict human heads and feature distinct expressions and styles, including ornamentation and hairdos.

Archaeologists have also excavated small sculptures of fired clay at Daima near Lake Chad, which appear to be from the 5th century BCE. Around the 1st century CE, people in the Sokoto region of northwestern Nigeria began making heads with a distinct appearance, featuring heavier browns and less ornamentation than those of the Nok. Ancient peoples also created beautiful clay pots to store grain and medicine.

2. Metal 

Metal was another widely used material that has survived the sands of time and the continent’s termites. Archaeologists have discovered bronze-cast African tribal artifacts dating to the 9th century CE, including regalia and other pieces from the Igbo-Ukwu tribe of Nigeria.

In the 12th to 15th century CE, the Ife people of Yoruba heightened the form, creating life-size heads and masks as well as small, full-length figurines of copper and brass. These pieces feature a remarkable realism and intensity now synonymous with African sculptural tradition. 

From the 15th century on, the Yoruba people of Benin created the famous so-called Benin bronzes. This collection, which is actually made of brass, consists of over 1,000 sculptures and plaques that once adorned the royal palace halls at Benin. 

3. Stone

Africa is home to the most ancient rock art in the world. The oldest scientifically dated artwork dates back 24,000 to 27,000 years. However, most experts believe the continent’s rock art tradition is at least 50,000 years old. In the 16th century CE, people groups like the Kongo and Sherbro from Sierra Leone created remarkable stone pieces. The Shona people of Zimbabwe also contributed significant sculptures made from serpentine stone, a sedimentary, metamorphic rock known for its green color.

To get an up-close look at sculptures and other African tribal artifacts in the heart of Berkeley County, come to Queen Street Gallery in downtown Martinsburg, WV. Since 1997, this art gallery and antique shop has offered exquisite pieces at competitive rates, including African metal works, Kuba cloths, Shona Tribe stone sculptures, and much more. Call (304) 263-9495 to talk to a knowledgeable team member about their current inventory, or visit the website to learn more about the gallery and shop.