African patterns, ornaments and motifs.

The culture of African peoples is very diverse, like the continent itself. The richness of cultural heritage is manifested in music, literature, and art. It is because of its interesting traditions that Africa attracts many tourists. This article will focus on African patterns, ornaments and motifs.

What do African symbols mean?

In every African family there are fabrics with a variety of patterns for all occasions. Now very few people know how to read these patterns, but each of them means something. In the interlacing of lines, colors and shadows, words, proverbs and even entire poems are ciphered. Signs in their totality form the whole system. In the olden days, fabrics with seals could be afforded only by crowned persons. Over time, African patterns spread throughout West Africa. To date, almost everyone can afford to buy fabrics with special symbols. The fashion included materials of bright colors.

Among the peoples of the Akan group living in the central regions of Ghana, a system of special symbols is used, each of which means something. Here are some of them:

• "Palm". Means wealth, flexibility, vitality and self-sufficiency.
• "A heart". It is a symbol of patience. In African peoples it is believed that only that person can be tolerated, who has a heart.
• "Crocodile". This sign indicates the ability to adapt. This is due to the fact that the crocodile lives in water, but at the same time it breathes air, i.e. It adapts to various external conditions.
• "The moon and the star." Characterizes love, harmony and faithfulness in the relationship between a man and a woman.

African patterns on the body

African ornaments were widely used to decorate various parts of the body. Each pattern applied to the skin had its own meaning and strength. Ritual ornaments, for example, protected a person from evil spirits. To protect the warrior from arrows and other dangers, a special ornament was also used. African patterns also showed the social status of a person.

Of great importance was also the color of the drawing. For example, in Central Africa, red color symbolized life and health. The healers often painted the body of the sick man with red patterns so that he could be healed as soon as possible. White color was a symbol of connection with the world of spirits, and also meant purity of thoughts and friendliness. Certain colors were allowed to be applied to the body only after reaching a specific age. For example, a boy, when he became a boy, was allowed to use a yellow color.

Patterns on fabric

Tribes living in West Africa, applied wax to cotton material. After its solidification on the fabric surface, a certain pattern was scraped out. After that, the cut with wax fell into boiling paint. At a high temperature, the wax melted, and the material acquired a pattern.

African ornaments and patterns on tissues had a definite meaning. In Nigeria, very popular images of lizards, imprisoned in geometric shapes. Moorish ornaments used images of animals, people, and ritual masks.

African motifs in the interior

African style is manifested not only in patterns on the body and tissues. A lot of popular among adventure lovers enjoys an African style in interior design. It involves the use of the decoration of the room colors such as terracotta, yellow, sand and red. Leather furniture, objects made of clay, fur harmoniously fit into the image. A highlight, complementing the overall look, are various trophies, African designs, ritual masks and paintings, for example, depicting the inhabitants of the savannah. This style allows you to give vent to fantasy when decorating an interior.