Fon arts

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Fon Arts
The Fon people otherwise known as Agadja, Fon nu, or Dahomey are a major linguist group of African ethnicity. They are the biggest group in Benin who are primarily found in the south region of the country. Besides, they are located in southwest Togo and Nigeria. They have an estimated population of approximately 3.5 million individuals, and they speak the Fon language. They are settled farmers who grow yams, corn, cassava, as their staples. They had a distinct culture in which different forms of arts were presented.
Textile works
Most of their textile fabrics are made of bright, vibrant colors with a definite or repeated pattern. It possesses different dozens of wax-printed fabrics that are typical of traditional weaving designs. These designs are made in a way that eludes simple categorization, meaning that they transcend the distinction between low and high cultures, social class, and even popular and oral traditions.
Sculpture
Although they were not accustomed to doing metallic works, their ancestral asen was sculptured. The asen is made through a process called lost wax casting. In the initial steps, beeswax is melted, shaped, and afterward, hardened (Krimmer 3). The process is typically known for breaking of the original mold to form the final art after accurate shaping.
Metal works
The metal works were mostly done in a bid to make utensils. Moreover, staffs that are made of brass and iron were showcased in royal compounds in order to affirm to kingly power (“Fon Art, Republic of Benin,” N.

p). Most of them were crudely worked as they were carved by ironsmiths who were self-taught and lacked refinement processes.
Architecture
The traditional Fon people lived in mud-brick houses and brick dwellings made of concrete. However, on the royal walls, there were different forms of engravings which represents their military victories as well as history (“The royal architecture of Danhome (current Benin)” N.p).
Religious Objects
In the Fon culture, figures like the Boccio were kept outdoors and put underground. Wherever it stands, it serves a purpose of protection, as it is believed to bar entrance from evil spirits (“Fon Art, Republic of Benin,” N.p). They were carved from human form figure for spiritual purposes.
Works Cited
“Fon Art, Republic Of Benin.” Hamillgallery.com. N. p., 2018. Web. 18 Dec. 2018. https://www.hamillgallery.com/FON/FonArt.htmlKrimmer, Chaya M. “Ancestral Asen.”
“The Royal Architecture of Danhome (Current Benin).” Lisapo ya Kama. N. p., 2018. Web. 18 Dec. 2018. http://en.lisapoyakama.org/the-royal-architecture-of-danhome-current-benin/