The various groups of people who have existed throughout history (both groups that no longer exist, and groups that still exist today) also have a number of things in common like a multitude of differences. Two important aspects of ancient and current cultures and populations that seem to intertwine are religion and art. These two aspects are closely related and, from a purely cultural point of view, are practically synonymous because, in cultures such as African, Native American and Ancient Egyptian, the works of art created by the people of these cultures are used to express the religion of the people. beliefs and preferences. It can easily be argued that, without these works of art and the different media used to create them, religion and religious practice would not exist in such cultures. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Yoruba culture of Nigeria is a good example of a culture whose people express their beliefs through art. Starting from the 12th century AD until the 15th century, the Yoruba people created a series of copper alloy head sculptures and other similar terracotta sculptures of a style known as Ife. In addition to these head sculptures, there are numerous full-body sculptures, or statues of standing Oni, approximately 18 inches tall. The proportions of these standing Oni statues are such that the head of the sculpture is much larger in proportion to the body. This is because, in Yoruba culture, great emphasis is placed on the importance of the head and what lies inside it. The Yoruba people believe that the inside of the head is where the mind resides, which determines one's destiny and future. Yoruba art and the presence of many pieces and sculptures that highlight the human head only reflect this belief. The Yoruba people also believe that twins are sacred beings. This belief is also reflected in their art. The birth of twins is something that is associated with many celebrations and holidays in Yoruba culture. However, when a twin dies, the mother must replace him with an Ibeji twin figure. This is because, according to the Yoruba people, the spirit of the twin still exists and must be cared for just as one continues to care for the remaining twin. The mother typically purchases the twin doll from a market, and through a ritual process, the spirit of the deceased twin is placed in the doll. In Native American culture, people also expressed their beliefs in artistic ways. The use of Kachina dolls in Native American rituals, for example, is one such case where the art was used for religious purposes. Kachina dolls, common among the Hopi of the southwestern United States, were constructed of various materials such as wood, leather, feathers, and paint. They were built by the fathers of young girls in the Hopi tribes and were given to girls to care for and treat as if they were animate beings. The Hopi people also believed that each Kachina doll was related to some aspect of the real world, such as the weather, crops, the sun, the moon, etc. Therefore, it was believed that if Kachina dolls were carefully cared for by their owners, they would bring good luck related to the aspect of the real world they represented. Another example of Native American art that played an important role in religious practice are the mounds of the Eastern Woodlands, particularly the Serpent Mound. Although little is known about this mound, it can be argued that it played an important role in the religious practices of the people who created it due to its intricate design, as well as the existence of numerous Native American artifacts located around the mound,.