African

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Art since 1900

African Art

Osei Bonsu was especially active as a carver in the years 1925-1940. He was in detention under the Nkrumah regieme from 1960 to 66. He visited the U.S. in 1975 and again in 1976.

Ntan is one of the traditional "popular bands" common in many parts of the Asante region of Ghana. These are voluntary musical associations that play for entertainment at family celebrations (weddings, funerals, etc.) and community festivals. In playing and dancing, the members of the group are entertaining themselves as well as the spectators, although they are generally paid for performances. A band will specialize in one type of music (just as a jazz band might be categorized as Dixieland, bebop or funk). In the Twi language ntan means 'bluff' -- the names of the categories of music are often playful.

Ntan bands featured drums with elaborate relief carving. The bands also set up groups of small-scale carved figures, which seem to represent political rather than religious heirarchies and may include satirical elements. Most of Osei Bonsu's surviving free-standing figure carvings are associated with ntan music.