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There is an unfair tale to be told of African Art and that is the way Empires visited and admonished what they felt was poor or basic art. Relatively speaking all art is basic and it is instead the meaning behind the form and function, the religious and tribal connotations that provide its true meaning of art.

In that respect African art is no different in composition to that of many societies that feel their art is more advanced. Only in that historically most art in Africa is of wooden or material susceptible erosion, so not much exists throughout the centuries.

Hence why such a bastion of historic human reference was idealised as a lower form to the marching forces who happened upon these lands - aside form any structural anomalies. Today there is a great swathe of Traditional Art and Contemporary Art to be found in all nations of Africa, although those in the North are not usually typified in the general culture of African art, mainly due to their historic leanings towards a Muslim based art history.

African Art In Different Parts Of Africa

Mali: As in most cultures the male is the dominant art reference. Penises are everywhere and the focus is pretty much on male genitalia and in comparison to the female through a variety of depictions and sculptures.

Bambara: Masks and Statues are the most noticeable art form used by these people. Bambara Queen and Guantigui feature heavily in many sculpted pieces. The societies of N'tomo, Nama, Kore and Komo each have their own elaborate masks with related head dresses dating back several centuries.

Dogon: Dogon Art is primarily for family use rather than any wider public audience. they feature personalised account of lives around the periods and has inklings of a basis in cubism. While Dogon is also transformed into over 80 styles of masks. The geometric shapes separate the style from the aforementioned Bambara.

Gabon: The Bantu Fang people of the Gabon and wider rain forest who are domiciled there have a focus in arts which have a basis in masks, basketry, carvings and sculptures. The baskets have been a mainstay of the tourism industry for many a decade with Mokola Palm and local dyes making for some extraordinary designs.

There is so much more history to discover in each of the above countries from over 100 tribes, as well as in Botswana, Kenya and Burkina Faso.