Yoruba and Kalinago art

Research and Analysis

I went to the British Museum to explore the origins of religious diaspora from Africa to the Caribbean. I looked mainly at Yoruba artefacts, although my visit revealed that many African countries and tribes within them held spiritual beliefs. There was a variety of artefacts that illustrated Yoruba royalty, spirits (Orishas) and gods, such as the god Shango, who I discovered when reading previously on the subject. One artist I was particularly interested in was the Yoruba artist Olowe of Ise (1875-1938). He was renowned for using African woods to create sculptures depicting religious scenes and members of royalty. One thing that I noticed was the significance of the head in Yoruba art. The head (Ori) was considered to be the most important part of the body as it dictates personality and is the closest to the spirits and the gods. I will take this into consideration when designing my interpretation of the Caribbean folklore characters, as the link between Yoruba and Caribbean Obeah religion appears significant. It seems right to use elements of Yoruba art in my designs. Another aspect of Olowe of Ise's art that I was interested in was his distinctive use of textures and details. For example, on his wall piece he used different levels of raised areas and patterns akin to those used on textiles pieces from the region. Types of regional textiles are another thing that I could think about using for my character designs, in order to bond closely to the context. I also learnt that iron is a commonly used material in Yoruba art, as they worship the Ogun, the god of iron, hunting and warfare. Overall the trip to the British Museum helped me to find materials, techniques and subject matter typical of Yoruba and strengthen the link between the Yoruba religion and the Obeah religion in the Caribbean.

I researched the Kalinago people and their impact on contemporary Caribbean culture and folklore. The Kalinago (Caribs) were some of the earliest settlers on the islands. Migrating from the American mainland BC, the Caribs illustrated their daily lives, interactions with colonists and spirits and gods using rock art. I was lucky enough to be able to visit some of the Kalinago stones in  Grenada last summer and found that the typical style was shallow rock carvings of simplified rounded figures. Although very little of their cultural presence remains, small elements of their art and culture that still exists serves as a fascinating reference to the different religious traditions that lived on the islands.