The Rhetorical Function of Portraits from Benin (Nigeria)

A scrutiny of African portraiture art reveals that it is atypical in style, diverse in function andinherent in complex connotations. Consequently, this genre amongst the creative outputs ofAfricans is generally not properly comprehended outside their culture of origin, hence littlehas been written about them. It is therefore unsurprising that some arguments in literatureactually assert that African art is devoid of portraits. On the contrary and as countlessexamples show, Africans, for example, the people of Benin (Nigeria) produce veritableportraits. The most intriguing aspects of these artforms, from an art historical perspective,are their unusual formal configuration, profound aesthetic and iconographic significance,multifarious style and diverse functions. These singular characteristics differentiate them fromnon-African portraits and are their own unique property. They are also the features that makethem interesting and edifying. Thus the aim of this article is principally to present a contextualanalysis of Benin portraits in an attempt to explicate the aesthetic and iconographic concerns that make them significant. This appraisal is aimed also at promoting further knowledge andappreciation of these artforms outside their culture of origin.