How Are Art and Architecture Related to the Religion of the Kingdom of Ghana?

Art and architecture are related to the religion of the Kingdom of Ghana because of the ways in which the religion shaped the buildings that were built and the religious influences which are found in the art.

The kingdom of Ghana was defined by its architecture, and it is easy to see the influence of religion in that architecture. The population of the Kingdom of Ghana was primarily Arab and there were many ornate Mosques in the cities that used elements of art to express religious ideas and culture.

The buildings that have been found during archaeological excavations are huge and extremely ornate, primarily constructed of brick and stone with more ornate patterns in their construction. The large number of mosques and the religious influences found within the ornate designs illustrate clearly that religion in the Kingdom of Ghana dictated what buildings were built and what imagery was depicted on those buildings.

Kingdom of Ghana Art

Present day art that comes from what was once the Kingdom of Ghana is not the same type of art that was produced during the reign of the king. During the king’s reign over the many cities, there was much art done in gold since it was plentiful. Today the art takes many forms, some of which have been influenced by the religion in the Kingdom of Ghana. Examples include:

• Kente Cloth: A process of double weaving to make intricate cloths
• Brass Castings: Melted brass is pulled into a mold and the mold is removed to reveal the finished piece of art
• Adinkra Cloth: This cloth is produced by taking a piece of cloth and placing meaningful stamps upon it to be used for funeral services for those that have departed
• Wooden Stools: Stools are carved from wood with intricate and ornate patterns
• Drums: Wooden drums are used for ceremonial purposes and the drums are said to speak in the same rhythmic tones, or “speak,” according to the ceremony in which they are used

Kingdom of Ghana History

Ghana was one of the earliest West African states to develop. It was from this place that salt and gold were transported along trade routes along the Mediterranean Sea and across the Sahara Desert. The first mention of the Kingdom of Ghana occurred in writings from 833 A.D.

The extensive description of the location took place 200 years later as people began to relate the story of the Almoravids of North Africa who invaded Ghana and took control of Aoudaghast, a minor city in the kingdom.

The kingdom was made up of many smaller cities that contained fine houses, markets, and buildings. In addition to these structures, there were plantations of henna and many palm trees.

The king of Ghana lived in one city, which was surrounded by vast walls to protect the kingdom, while everyone else lived in smaller cities to the south that surrounded the king’s city. The riches the king lived off of and got rich from were garnered by the gold nuggets which were discovered here and the taxation on salt that was exported to other locations along the trade routes. All gold nuggets found belonged solely to the king, while those in charge of excavating such nuggets were only permitted to have the gold dust left behind.