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