A carved wooden figure of a man, that affixed to the top of a ceremonial staff. It was carved by the Akan people of ancient Ghana.
Jewelry:
• Due to the abundance of gold in the regions, citizens of both Mali and Ghana enjoyed golden jewelry. Wealthy Fulani Women from Dogon wore 19 carat gold earrings that were so heavy that the top of each ear was bound with red wool or silk. Although not as abundant or malleable as gold, bronze and copper was also utilized to make jewelery.
Made in the lost wax process, this ancient bronze bracelet was excavated in Mali, West Africa. It is Djenne in origin and between 700 and 1000 years old.
Architecture:
Mali has distinctive architecture with a variety of building shapes and construction materials. For example, the Dogon people built mosques from sun-dried mud with beams and branches of trees protruding from them. This design helped with annual maintenance after the summer rains.
Culture:
Ghana and Mali both have distinct and diverse cultures. The constant and extensive trade between the West African empires and other neighboring regions allowed for cultural exhange and mixing.
Griots:
A major aspect of ancient African culture was the tradition of story telling. Griots, or Ghanaian storytellers, passed down ancient cultural anecdotes and rituals. These stories survived through generations of Ghanaians. Along with story-telling, griots were learned historians and could account any major event from Ghana's history. A famous African myth passed down by griots is the epic story of Sunjata. The character Sunjata is believed to be named for Sundiata, the founder of the Malian empire.
For more information on the story visit this link:
Sunjata - Myth Encyclopedia
Language:
While a variety of languages were spoken in the regions due to extensive trade, Mande was the prominent. Mande was the original language of Soninkes. After Islam took a stronger hold on the region Arabic writing became common.
Music:
Like most African kingdoms, Ghana and Mali produced a variety of music. The music centered around dramatic drum beats and chanting. The music of these great empires are believed to have influenced more modern African based music.
