In African art, sculpture commonly includes which materials?

• A. Wood carvings, terra-cotta, bronze
• B. Marble, alabaster, granite
• C. Gold, silver, lapis
• D. Ceramic, glass, plastic

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that traditional African sculpture most often uses readily available, craft-friendly media: wood, Terra-cotta (fired clay), and bronze. Wood is abundant across many regions and is deeply versatile for carving masks and figures used in ceremonies and daily life. Terra-cotta figures appear in various cultures for votive and ritual pieces, offering durable, workable sculpture from clay. Bronze showcases a sophisticated metallurgical tradition, especially in West Africa with cast bronzes from places like Benin and Ife, where the lost-wax process produced highly detailed figures and plaques. These media reflect long-standing artistic and cultural practices tied to the materials found in local environments and economies.

Marble, alabaster, and granite are stone materials more typical of other regions or eras and are not as characteristic of traditional African sculpture. Gold, silver, and lapis are precious materials used in adornment and ceremonial regalia in some cultures but not the primary sculptural media. Ceramic, glass, and especially plastic cover a broader range of contexts, with ceramic appearing in some traditions but not as dominant as wood, terra-cotta, and bronze in classic African sculpture.