African art describes the modern and historical paintings, sculptures, installations, and other visual culture from the African continent. The definition may also include the art of the African diasporas, such as African American, Caribbean and other American art. Despite this diversity, there are some unifying artistic themes when considering the totality of the visual culture from the continent of Africa.[1]
Masquerade, metalwork, sculpture, architecture, fiber art, and dance are important art forms across Africa and may be included in the study of African art. The term "African art" also includes the Muslim art of North and West Africa, the Christian art of East Africa, and the ritualistic art of these and other regions.
African mask art has had an important influence on European, Asian, and Native American Modernist art,[2] which they associated with non-realism.
East Africans are known for Tinga Tinga paintings and Makonde sculptures. There is also tradition of producing textile art, .[4] The culture from Great Zimbabwe left more impressive buildings than sculpture, but the eight soapstone Zimbabwe Birds appear to have had a special significance and were presumably mounted on monoliths. Modern Zimbabwean sculptors in soapstone have achieved considerable international success. Southern Africa's oldest known clay figures date from 400 to 600 AD and have cylindrical heads with a mixture of human and animal features.
