Female Expressions of Beauty in West Africa
Faculty Sponsor(s)
Thomas Love
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Subject Area
Anthropology
Description
Art from Africa is often imagined as sculptures and masks by a large majority of people. Current written materials on art in the area comprises mainly those particular items, with minimal emphasis on textiles. However, in Western Africa Senegal is not known for those “traditional” arts. Rather, the Senegalese are known for and place great significance on dress and outward appearance of the body. Thus, Dakar, Senegal is known as one of the fashion capitals of Africa. The Senegalese are known for their use of wax fabrics and body adornment, and they consider these commodities of great importance to display status in their society. The wax fabrics come from a long history of cloth trade between Europe and ‘exotic’ places, such as West Africa. The displays of status are demonstrated on important cultural events such as religious holidays, baptisms and weddings, just to name a few. This presentation discusses the effects of globalization on the fashion of the area, as well as how these external markers present identity and status to their audience.
Recommended Citation
Greaver, Kathleen, "Female Expressions of Beauty in West Africa" (2015). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 83.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2015/all/83
Female Expressions of Beauty in West Africa
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Art from Africa is often imagined as sculptures and masks by a large majority of people. Current written materials on art in the area comprises mainly those particular items, with minimal emphasis on textiles. However, in Western Africa Senegal is not known for those “traditional” arts. Rather, the Senegalese are known for and place great significance on dress and outward appearance of the body. Thus, Dakar, Senegal is known as one of the fashion capitals of Africa. The Senegalese are known for their use of wax fabrics and body adornment, and they consider these commodities of great importance to display status in their society. The wax fabrics come from a long history of cloth trade between Europe and ‘exotic’ places, such as West Africa. The displays of status are demonstrated on important cultural events such as religious holidays, baptisms and weddings, just to name a few. This presentation discusses the effects of globalization on the fashion of the area, as well as how these external markers present identity and status to their audience.
