The Beauty and Magic Behind African Culture非洲文化背后的美与魅

萨拉·约翰逊/文　王冰/译

Africa is known for its vast natural resources and beautiful landscapes， but it is also home to a rich culture of art.

非洲以其大量的自然资源和美丽景色闻名，但它也是丰富的艺术文化的发祥地。

Traditionally， healing， pleasure， protection， and transformation have all been central themes in the work of African artists. The British Royal Militarys 1897 seizure of an ivory carving and a bronze shell was the first significant piece of African art to have a lasting impact on Europe.

传统上，疗愈、愉悦、保护和转变都是非洲艺术家作品的中心主题。英国皇家军队1897年掠取的象牙雕刻品和铜牌匾是首次对欧洲产生持久影响的重要非洲艺术品。

African art is a vast and varied category that encompasses traditional masks， sculptures， textiles， and beadwork from across the African continent. While there is no one definition of African art， there are some common themes that run throughout this genre.

非洲艺术是一个庞大丰富的类别，包括非洲大陆各地的传统面具、雕塑、纺织品和珠饰。虽然非洲艺术没有一个确定的定义，但这类艺术有一些共通的主题。

The different styles of African art

非洲艺术的不同风格

One of the most distinguishing features of African art is its use of color. Bright colors are often used to express the vitality and joy of life， while dark colors can convey sadness or anger. Texture is also an important element of African art， with artists often using intricate patterns and designs to create a sense of movement and dynamism.

非洲艺术最显著的特征之一是其对色彩的运用。明亮的色彩常被用于表现生命的活力和喜悦，而深色则可以传达悲伤或愤怒。纹理结构也是非洲艺术的重要元素，艺术家经常使用复杂的图案和设计来创造动感与活力。

African artists use symbols to communicate meaning

非洲艺术家使用符号来传达意义

Many African artists use symbols to communicate meaning. For example， the Sankofa symbol represents the importance of learning from the past in order to build a better future. The Adinkra symbols of Ghana represent concepts or aphorisms. These symbols are often carved into stoneware pottery or printed on cloth. Adinkra symbols are used in cloth and bead work to represent concepts， beliefs， or values that the wearer wishes to express. Each symbol has a specific meaning that is understood by the people of Ghana.

許多非洲艺术家使用符号来传达意义。例如，圣伽法（Sankofa）符号代表向过去学习以建设更美好未来的重要性。加纳的阿丁克拉（Adinkra）符号则代表概念或格言。这些符号常被雕刻在粗陶器上或印在布料上。阿丁克拉符号被用于布料和珠饰，以代表穿戴者希望表达的概念、信仰或价值。每个符号都有为加纳人民所理解的特定含义。

African art & West African pop art

非洲艺术与西非通俗艺术

One of the most popular genres of African art is West African pop art， which emerged in the 1960s as a way for artists to comment on social issues such as colonialism and war. For example， Nigerian artist Victor Uwaifo created “Akanji Alhaji”， a portrait of an elderly man made out of oranges that playfully comments on the relationship between African artifacts and Western culture.

非洲最受欢迎的艺术流派之一是西非通俗艺术，出现于20世纪60年代，是艺术家对殖民主义和战争等社会议题发表评论的一种方式。例如，尼日利亚艺术家维克多·乌维福创作了《阿坎吉·阿尔哈吉》，这是一幅用橙子制作的老人肖像，戏谑地评论了非洲工艺品与西方文化之间的关系。

African art & music

非洲艺术与音乐

African artists often incorporate instruments into their work. In fact， music represents the importance of creativity and expression within African cultures. For example， many traditional masks from Mali include musical horns called “jeli”. These instruments are said to represent the human voice and therefore call upon ancestral spirits for protection during rituals. The Senufo people in Burkina Faso use drums that form part of a larger artwork. Each drum tells a story through symbols that express themes such as marriage or procreation， while also being used in ritual contexts during religious ceremonies.

非洲艺术家常常将乐器融入他们的作品中。事实上，音乐代表着非洲文化中创造力和表达的重要性。例如，马里的许多传统面具上都含有一种被称为“日里”（jeli）的音乐号角。据说这些乐器代表着人类的声音，因此可以在仪式中求得祖先的灵魂保佑。布基纳法索的塞努福人用鼓来构成大型艺术作品中的一部分。每面鼓用表达婚姻或生育等主题的符号讲述一个故事，也被用于宗教典礼中举办仪式的场合。

In modern days， traditional African instruments have been adapted for use by Western musicians， making their way into genres such as jazz and rock. For example， the talking drum used in West African music is featured prominently on Paul Simons album Graceland.

在现代，非洲传统乐器被西方音乐家改造使用，进入爵士和摇滚等音乐流派。例如，西非音乐中使用的讯息鼓是保罗·西蒙的专辑《恩赐之地》的显著特色。

Characteristics of art from Africa

非洲艺术的特色

· Formal innovation—the African artists concern with newness and creative thinking.

· 形式创新——非洲艺术家对新颖性和创造性思维的关注。

· Visual abstract concept and conventionalization.

· 视觉化的抽象概念和传统运用。

· A graphical mixture of steady rhythm and asymmetry.

· 稳定节奏和非对称性在绘画中的混合。

· The prerogatives of sculpture; the conversion and ornament of the human.

· 雕塑的特权地位；人的转变和装饰。

· A presence of multiple interpretations.

· 多重解读的存在。

Vibrancy and expressiveness

活力和表现力

One of the main characteristics of African art is its vibrancy. This is evident in the use of bright colors and patterns in African textiles， masks， and sculptures. Another characteristic is the expressiveness of African art. This is often conveyed through the facial features of masks and the body language of sculptures.

非洲藝术的主要特征之一是其活力。这一点明显体现于非洲纺织品、面具和雕塑对鲜明色彩及图案的使用中。非洲艺术的另一个特征是其表现力。这常常通过面具的面部特征和雕塑的肢体语言来传达。

Little distinction between art and utility

艺术与实用之间几无差别

Another main characteristic of African art is the lack of distinction between art and utility. For example， African masks were used in ceremonies to honor the dead or as protection against evil spirits. They might also be used in initiation rites that would transform an adolescent into a warrior or a man. To understand why African artists produced objects for use rather than for pure aesthetic value， one must first look at the history of Africa itself.

非洲艺术的另一个主要特征是艺术与实用之间缺乏区别。例如，非洲面具曾被用于纪念亡者或抵御邪灵的仪式。这些面具也可能被用于将青少年转变为战士或成人的成年仪式中。要理解非洲艺术家为什么为实用而不是为纯粹的美学价值而创造作品，我们必须先看看非洲本身的历史。

Meaning behind art from African culture

非洲文化中艺术背后的意义

One of the most interesting things about African art is the way in which it communicates different meanings and messages. Each piece of art is imbued with a special significance， often derived from African mythology or folklore.

非洲艺术最有趣的事情之一是它传达不同意义和信息的方式。每一件艺术作品都蕴含着特殊的意义，常常源自非洲神话或民间传说。

Masks are a prime example of this. They are often used in ceremonies and rituals， and can represent a variety of things， such as animals， ancestors， or gods. Each mask has a unique meaning and purpose， and can be used to communicate with the spirit world.

面具就是一个典型的例子。它们常被用于典礼和仪式，可以代表各种事物，如动物、祖先或神明。每个面具都有独特的含义和目的，可以用来与神灵世界沟通。

Another common element in African art is sculpture. African sculptures are often incredibly lifelike， and are often used to depict important figures from African mythology. They can also be used to celebrate the achievements of great people or to commemorate significant events.

非洲藝术的另一个常见元素是雕塑。非洲雕塑常常栩栩如生，常被用来描绘非洲神话中的重要人物。雕塑还可以被用于庆祝伟人的成就或纪念重大事件。

African traditional art

非洲传统艺术

The term “traditional art” refers to the most widely researched and common types of fine African art that can be seen in museums worldwide.

“传统艺术”一词指的是在世界各地博物馆中可以看到的、被广泛研究的常见非洲美术类型。

Masks are an important part of traditional African culture. They are used in ceremonies and rituals to represent spirits or ancestors. Each mask has its own unique design and purpose， and are often embellished with cowrie shells1， stones， feathers， beads， or leather fringes.

面具是非洲传统文化的重要组成部分，被用于典礼和仪式，代表神灵或祖先。每一个面具都有其独特的设计和目的，常用钱宝贝贝壳、石头、羽毛、珠子或皮革流苏装饰。

In western Africa， wooden masks depicting humans， animals， or mythical animals are frequent western art forms and African traditions. They were initially worn for religious and ceremonial occasions like weddings， agricultural work， and wartime preparations. A selected or qualified dancer dons the masks. Ancestors are “communicated” with the dancer in a deep trance while performing the mask ceremony.

在西非，描绘人类、动物或神话动物的木制面具是常见的西部艺术形式和非洲传统。它们起初在婚礼、农业劳动和战时准备等宗教和仪式场合佩戴。被选定的或有资格的舞者会戴上这些面具。在面具仪式中，深度出神状态下的舞者与祖先“交流”。

When wearing a mask， it is possible to wear it in three distinct ways： diagonally covering the face， horizontally covering the entire face， or horizontally covering a full head. If you don an African mask， its often thought that the spirit of your forefathers has taken over your body.

面具可能有三种不同的佩戴方式：斜对角覆盖面部、水平覆盖整个面部或水平覆盖整个头部。如果你戴上非洲面具，人们常会认为你祖先的灵魂已经占据了你的身体。

Cowrie shells， nails， and metal studs are commonly used to inlay statues made of ivory or wood. Ornamental clothing is also a typical sight in African art， and it is a significant aspect of the culture. Ghanas colorful， strip-woven Kente fabric is one of the most complicated African textiles. A more well methodology of traditional art is patterned mud-cloth2.

钱宝贝贝壳、钉子和金属钉饰常用于镶嵌象牙或木头制成的雕像。装饰性衣物也是非洲艺术的典型体现，是非洲文化的一个重要方面。由交织布条织成的、色彩缤纷的加纳肯特（Kente）织物是非洲最复杂的纺织品之一。传统艺术中能更好体现其技法的是印花泥布。

（译者为“《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛获奖者）

1 cowrie shell 钱宝贝贝壳。cowrie是腹足纲、宝贝科、宝贝属的一种海洋软体动物，种类很多，包括很小的钱宝贝，从前非洲等地将其贝壳当货币使用。

2 mud-cloth 泥布，泥染布料，一种非洲传统布艺。