To expand search, see Sub-Saharan Africa. Laterally related topics: The Bushoong, TheTshokwe, The Mursi of Ethiopia, The Bambara of Sudan, South Africa, The Bushmen (southern Africa), Ghana, BeninCity, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, and The Kpelle of Guinea.
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Crowe, Donald W. The geometry of African art. II. A catalog of Benin patterns. Historia Math. 2 (1975), 253--271. (Reviewer: M. P. Closs.) SC: 01A15 (20H15), MR: 58 #9986b.
Discusses the strip patterns and plane patterns occurring in Benin art. All 7 strip patterns and 12 of the 17 frieze patterns occur, though about five of the frieze patterns which do occur are rare: two may only occur once, and one of these may be based on a European model. The author compares the Benin patterns with the Bakuba patterns. Glide reflections are more rare in Benin art than in Bakuba art, possibly because glide reflection symmetries may arise most naturally from weaving patterns. Benin art also tents to be more representational, Bakuba art more abstract. The author also considers Benin patterns to be less varied than Bakuba patterns. However, it appears that the bronzework itself is nearly unsurpassed. A catalog is given with most of the strip patterns the author has found in Benin art, along with one example of each of the 12 plan patterns that occur. The author does not discuss this, but some patterns combine elements of different symmetries: the authors example of a p1 symmetry would have been classified differently if either of its two motifs were removed. Also see the erratum, Crowe, Donald W., Erratum to: "The geometry of African art. Closely related topics: BeninCity, Nigeria, Frieze Patterns, Plane Patterns, Weaving, and Bronzework.
Crowe, Donald W. The geometry of African art. I. Bakuba art. J. Geometry 1 (1971), 169--182. (Reviewer: M. P. Closs.) SC: 01A15 (20H15), MR: 58 #9986a.
Discusses strip and plane patterns occurring in Bakuba art, particularly in textiles and woodcarving. The inspiration for many of these patterns seems to be from weaving, but at least one pattern may originate in the technique of sewing together triangles to make bark cloth. All seven strip patterns occur, and 12 of the 17 possible plane patterns. Discusses the relative proportions of some of these patterns, and gives an example of each. In all but one of the strip patterns, the author gives both cloth and carved examples (the other is given in cloth only, being rare in wood). The author includes an appealing claim about one of the patterns, made by an earlier researcher (too enthusiastic in the view of the authors): "it is probably the most remarkable example of this kind... its discovery is certainly a mathematical accomplishment of the first magnitude." Also see the erratum, Crowe, Donald W., Erratum to: "The geometry of African art. Closely related topics: Frieze Patterns, Plane Patterns, Weaving, and Wood Carving.