digital photograph(colour)
- Museum number
- 2013,2034.19863
- Description
-
Digital photograph (colour); view of painted rock art on a rock face showing three unidentified quadrupeds, a bird like-figure and many geometric symbols and unidentified shapes. To the centre there is a group of red geometric signs, including series of parallel lines, grid-style shapes and concentric circles. To the lower right there are two unidentified quadrupeds (masks?) infilled in white and depicted upright facing right or left, a bird-like figure facing left and several white unidentified shapes. A third unidentified quadruped can be seen to the left, depicted upright facing left. A 20 cm photo scale has been fitted at the bottom of the tableau. Namzeze, Malawi.
Born digital
- Production date
- 25 November 2010
- Dimensions
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File size: 70.10 megabytes
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Resolution: 300 dots per inch
- Curator's comments
- See 2013,234.19844 to 2013,2034.19925 and 2013,2034.20269 to 2013,2034.20317 for different views of the panel. The white unidentified quadrupeds are representations of kasiyamaliro, a type of mask structure depicting an antelope used by the nyau, a secret society among Chewa people. The bird-like figure most probably represents another type of mask. The site of Namzeze is located in the Chongoni Rock art area, in the westernmost part of central Malawi, very near of the border with Mozambique. That region is the most important concentration of rock art in Malawi, with 127 rock art sites located so far. The paintings belong to the two main traditions of rock art found in the country, the red schematic paintings attributed to the BaTwa people and the white tradition associated with Chewa farmers. In the case of Namzeze, these two styles can be seen clearly along the panel of the shelter. The site is still a relevant place for men’s initiation ceremonies. Rock art in Malawi was documented since at least the 1920’s although it wasn’t until the fifties when the first articles were published, and only in 1978 a first synthesis on Malawian rock art was published. In the eighties research increased, especially in the Chongoni area as its importance become evident. In 1995 the Chongoni rock art area was comprehensively studied by Benjamin Smith as a part of a doctoral research which is still the main reference on the topic.
The Malawian rock art can be organized in two groups with different styles, chronologies and production contexts. The first one is characterized by red schematic paintings with parallels in Central Africa from Malawi to Angola. These paintings are associated with the BaTwa hunter-gatherers, groups closely related to modern Pygmy and probably associated to rainmaking and fertility ceremonies. The second and more modern rock art tradition found in Malawi is represented by white figures made with white clay daubed with the finger. Related to the agriculturalists Chewa, the depictions usually represent zoomorphic, spread-eagled or snake-like figures which could represent mythological beings, sometimes accompanied by geometric symbols. The interpretation of the paintings is straightforward, as they can still be assimilated to current rituals of initiation for Chewa young people.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 2013
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- 2013,2034.19863
- Additional IDs
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Previous owner/ex-collection number: MALDED0060020 (TARA number)