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linguist(n)
one who speaks several languages or who is accomplished in languages; in the Asante culture, the principal counselor of a chief or king |
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loom (n)
device for weaving cloth |
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Luluwa
ethnically diverse group in the southeastern part of present-day Democratic Republic of Congo, known for their sculpted statues and masks. The Luluwa are united solely by their proximity to the Lulua River and have never organized as a political entity. Religious life focuses around honoring ancestors, fertility, the protection of children, and success in hunting. Arts are commissioned primarily for use in religious ceremonies. |
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masquerade (n)
occasion combining performers, dances, music, masks, and costumes. Masquerades serve many functions, from entertaining to healing, and may be held on a variety of occasions, including initiation and funerary ceremonies. A masquerade often involves an element of sustained disbelief when a masked performer may temporarily be accepted by the audience as the incarnation of a spirit. |
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matrilineal (adj)
form of social organization in which descent is traced through the female line |
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mediate (v)
to facilitate agreement or communication between two parties |
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medieval (adj)
related to the Middle Ages, the period of history between antiquity and the Renaissance, from about A.D. 500 to around 1500 |
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Minkisi (n)
In the Kongo language, spiritually invested objects are called minkisi (singular, nkisi)
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missionary (n)
person who goes to a foreign country to spread a religious faith or help another group |
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morocco leather (n)
goatskin converted to fine leather through treatment with the sumac plant |
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motif (n)
a distinctive and often repeated pattern or image in a work of art |
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Nkisi (n)
In the Kongo language, a spiritually invested object (plural, minkisi) |
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oba (n)
Edo word for king |
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ochre (n)
an earth tone, usually red or yellow in color, often consisting of impure iron ore and used as a pigment |
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ordination (n)
event in which a person is officially endowed with ministerial or priestly duties and authority |
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pagan (adj/n)
follower of polytheistic (multi-god) religion |
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Pan-African
literally, all-African. The term is meant to emphasize the connections between all of the ethnic groups in Africa rather than the dissimilarities between them. |
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patron (n)
person or group who hires an artist to create a work of art |
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pendant (n)
ornament suspended or allowed to hang free |
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plaque (n)
flat-backed piece of metal or wood used for decoration in an architectural setting. Plaques are often embellished in bas-relief. |
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proverb (n)
short popular saying containing a familiar truth or useful piece of advice in expressive, often visual language (example: “Don’t cry over spilt milk”). |
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