| Africa is well known for its art and craft works, most | | | | three-dimensional pieces. Decorative fabrics are |
| of these arts works are found in the form of | | | | meant to be worn, with the wearer becoming part |
| sculptures, fabric work, decorative items, musical | | | | of the art piece, while wall paintings, usually carved |
| instruments like drums, and paintings. Most of the | | | | from wood, though flat, become part of the |
| statues will be carved in the form of humans, which | | | | residence that it is hung in. |
| represents great leaders. They make their art work | | | | Most of the African arts and crafts resemble its |
| in such a way that each and every piece of art | | | | tradition and culture. Each and every art piece |
| reveals their tradition and culture. Normally Africans | | | | resembles the daily life and culture of African peoples. |
| DO NOT show affection to each other, they make | | | | And today those arts can be found in museums, one |
| their art work which resembles their culture. | | | | good example is African masks. African people used |
| The statues of animals in African art are included | | | | masks on some occasional days or on some regional |
| with human figures, to further give praise to the | | | | ceremonies, and even in wars and also on the day of |
| person being honored. For example, a horse is | | | | harvesting. |
| considered a very noble animal, and including one in a | | | | The styles and designs of African masks differ |
| sculpture of a man or woman means that person is | | | | according to each country and each tribe . For |
| being held in very high regard. Most contemporary | | | | example, the Dan people of the Ivory Coast and |
| statues are made of either stone or carved of wood. | | | | Liberia have wooden masks carved with African |
| Evidences of African art could be found as early as | | | | features, such as wide foreheads, flat noses, wide |
| 500 BC, with carved rocks in the Sahara and | | | | and full lips, accented by attached strands of rope to |
| sculptures from Nigeria. The use of bronze, brass and | | | | look like hair. The Punu people of Congo, Cameroon |
| other metalwork, as well as the incorporation of | | | | and Gabon have wooden masks with wooden hair, |
| terracotta, ivory and other embellishments were | | | | usually piled high as they represent wealthy women, |
| attributed to go back as far as 10th century AD, and | | | | and decorated with long strands of raffia along the |
| usually reserved for royalty. African art forms that | | | | jaw line. The whitened faces of these masks serve |
| were not statues or figurines were still meant to be | | | | to scare off witches and evil spirits. |