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Basic 3 · Creative Arts · Thinking and Exploring Ideas

Project: Making Art from an African Country

In this topic you will start a school-based project to study and make artworks from one African country.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Choose an African country to study
  • Find out about its art
  • Make an artwork in that style

What you already know

  • Visual art from other African countries

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Visual Arts& Performing
Sub-strand
Thinking and Exploring Ideas
Indicator
B3.1.1.1.1 – Study and make artworks produced or found in other African communities

Introduction

Each group will "visit" an African country through its art. You will research, then make art like the people there.

1. Project Steps

  1. Choose a country (e.g. Nigeria, Kenya, Mali, South Africa).
  2. Find pictures of its art in books or from your teacher.
  3. Write three facts about the art.
  4. Make your own artwork in that style.
  5. Prepare to share it.

2. Ideas for Artworks

Project ideas
CountryArtwork idea
Malimud-cloth-style patterns with brown and white paint
Kenyabead necklaces made from seeds or rolled paper beads
South AfricaNdebele-style patterns on carton
Nigeriaclay heads inspired by Ife and Benin sculpture
Children making bead necklaces from rolled paper
Figure 1: Making paper beads Draw your project artwork.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

project
A piece of work done over several days.
research
To find out information.
fact
Something true.
style
A special way of making art.

Summary

  • Choose a country and research its art.
  • Write facts and make an artwork in its style.
  • Prepare to share your project.

Class activity: Project Start

  1. Choose your country.
  2. Use crayons, old cartons and manila paper to begin your artwork.
  3. Write three facts about the country's art.

You need: Locally made drum, Gourd shaker, Printed photographs of Ghanaian, African musicians

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. To find out information is to…

    • A. Research
    • B. Sleep
    • C. Forget
    • D. Hide
    Show answer
    Answer: ResearchThat is research.

  2. 2. Which artwork idea fits Kenya?

    • A. Bead necklaces
    • B. Mud cloth
    • C. Bronze heads
    • D. Kente
    Show answer
    Answer: Bead necklacesMaasai beadwork comes from Kenya.

  3. 3. A project takes several days.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt is done over time.

  4. 4. Mud cloth comes from South Africa.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseIt comes from Mali.

  5. 5. Something true is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: factThat is a fact.

  6. 6. Name the country your group chose and one artwork from it.

    Show answer
    Answer: Answers will differ.Each group chooses a country.

Homework

  1. Collect materials for your project artwork.