African Jewelry

African Jewelry
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By libra

To speak of African jewelry as though there were a single unifying theme would be misleading. Africa is a vast continent, and African peoples have a long history. Their jewelry, in different regions, depends on jewelry-making from source materials available to them in their own locations, and their styles are influenced by their cultural and religious underpinnings. There could be overt influences just as much as underlying themes and idea may unconsciously shape the the designs of the jewelry.

Over time, there are cross-influences within the continent, and of course, the impact of Western invaders and colonizers cannot be ignored. Jewelry is an art form, and like any art form, it must necessarily evolve in the course of time, shaped by all kinds of historical influences.