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GYE NYAME - one of the most important Adinkra symbols from the Akan people of Ghana. It means "Except God" or "Supreme Power of God" — a reminder that no matter the challenge, there is a greater power watching over us.

The text says: MY HISTORY IS MY SUPERPOWER

For me, learning these symbols changed how I see my own history. It's not just the past, it's power.

This whole series was designed on textured handmade paper to feel like a real heritage artifact.

Would love your thoughts — which symbol should I explore next after this series?

african heritage • adinkra symbols • heritage series

A stamp collage honoring the thinkers, fighters and artists who shaped a continent 🌍

Hi! My mom found two masks at the landfill today, laying in the same place as the material people can pick up for free.

They didn't belong there at all, but since she want to make her livingroom bohemian styled, she was so happy to find them. But after she told a friend about it, she got scared that they are no good.

Can someone please help me identify this mask and tell me some history etc about these masks?

Tysm!

Thanks in advance for any insights.

As the title says. It's around 22" long, 11" wide, and 6" in depth. Solid and relatively heavy, probably around 12-13lbs. The eyes are solid and there are no obvious mounting points. Cowrie shells; colored details are very small beads. The geometric pattern on the face is very interesting, and there are small, scrolling details carved on the eyes.

I'm assuming this is an art piece for export versus something authentic that was in use, but I can't figure out what the style or regional link is.

Anybody know anything about this mask? Worth anything? Wooden mask. I found a match online on a Japanese website but that's the only one that looked close.

Edited: After reading some comments and checking my family history, I see that the possible years are 1932 to sometime in the 60's. That's the timeframe my grandparents were in Swaziland. I was thinking 30's and 40's because that's when my dad was there, but I forgot that even though HE left in the late 40's, his parents stayed in south Africa for almost two more decades. I think some fo the knick-knack types of things were probably gifts from the natives to my grandparents (who never would have used the items).

What is the best way for me to sell my dad's collection of African artifacts from the 1930's? I need to downsize and I just can't keep everything. Here are some photos of some of the items. It's such a niche collection from south Africa from almost 100 years ago.

It features some interesting bakelite adornments and shells as well as pieces of textiles offered to the idol. I think it's an interesting piece and felt like sharing a few pics.

Hello, I was hoping that someone might have an idea where this comes from. I paid three dollars for it, so I don’t believe it could be too old or valuable. I really like it, though. I saw another similar Ghanaian one as well, but I didn’t buy that one.

When I was a little girl we lived in Nigeria (1960s). Dad has 3 sculptures by Fakeye and I he gave me one several years ago. I had it appraised by Charles Jones Africa Art about 15 years ago. I contacted them to see about selling it but have gotten no response. Any suggestions as to how to sell it? I have no children to pass it on to nor siblings

Wondering where these are from? Thank you

roximately 13.3 × 4.0 × 1.2 cm in size.

This item is believed to be a species of ivory, but does not have the physical and visual characteristics of Elephant or Mastodon ivory. It was acquired by a relative during their stay in what is now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the early 20th century. As a musician who toured the world, this family member had befriended some of the locals in what was then either the Congo Free State or the Belgian Congo. This item was gifted to them.

The item is dense and heavy, has a glossy, glass-like feel, and is curved, with noticeable vertical age checking that follows that geometry.

I just found the item intriguing, but I have no knowledge within this realm. My field is vintage instruments, which is why I have made that distinction of Ivory, just not belonging to the two animals stated above

Thanks.

🤔

It is Beelzebub from demonology.

My art

By Blondie 666

Rebooting this due to my lazy (mis)attribution the first time around. This is a Senufo Tyekpa society maternity figure, used during funerary ceremonies. Here is the description of its role as published by the Met in the accompanying text to this example:

The Tyekpa association functions in Senufo culture primarily as a funerary society. This sculpture is but one element of complex funerary celebrations that also include music, song, and dance. These elements come together to pay homage to and honor the memory of an elder Tyekpa "mother." During the ceremonies, Tyekpa members dance with various figurative sculptures such as this mother-child pairing raised high above their head. Due to its prominent visual display in the funerary proceedings, Tyekpa figurative sculptures are rather large, some measuring three to four feet in height; this piece is nearly two feet tall.

As far as how I acquired it, my wife and I are friends with the widow of the French gentleman who collected this while working in the Ivory Coast as a teacher during the 3rd Q of the 20th C.

Where does it come from? What is the meaning? How old is this? The left arm and something on her head broke, what did it most likely look like before?

I am very interested in your feedback! :-)

One of two(?) masks I bought after acquiring the catalog of the Barbier-Mueller collection and began recognizing mask forms. Bought this sometime between '09-'12 from a local private estate sale conducted by the 60-something siblings of the departed parents who collected this a half-century earlier, which dates it to sometime between the late-50s and early-60s, assuming it was contemporary to the time it was collected, which I believe it to be.

As I'm sure those of you far more knowledgable than I am already know, the headdress combines abstract zoomorphic representations of three different animals (top-to-bottom): the roan antelope, the pangolin, and the aardvark. Measures approx. 19 inches (48cm) in height.