Although there is a certain amount of overlapping I think that it is safe to say that works of African art can be placed into one of two categories, either “traditional” African art or “contemporary” African art. Traditional African art is that which has been used for cult or religious purposes for example initiations, celebrations, harvests as well as protection and healing. Traditional African art is never produced for its own sake. Each mask or figure has a function, indeed if the piece were to lose its power it would be cast away without any thought given to whether the piece is beautifully carved or not.

Contemporary African art generally has no religious or cult significance. Sometimes confusingly though figures and paintings are also used in religious ceremonies. The voodoo artist Cossi from Togo and the Nigerian Bruce Onobrakpeya are two such artists who works are used respectively for voodoo and Christian ceremonies. Generally though Contemporary African art is in the form of two-dimensional paintings and to a lesser extent carved figures.

Africa has long been a source of inspiration for numerous influential European and American artists. Its liberating and refreshing effect on modern art has been immeasurable. Picasso, Max Ernst, Paul Klee and Giacometti are just a few of the artists that have been inspired by African art.

Based on religious and philosophical values, the pieces have a silent dignity that does not always reveal their original purpose. Often they are just one aspect of a religious ceremony and, taken out of context, it is difficult to understand their true meaning and value to a society. The Africans themselves do not see their work as pieces of art, they see them as communicators between this and the supernatural world, a world that we in the West are rapidly losing contact with.

Art or artefact, modern or antique; the result is a fascinating combination of a sometimes beautiful, sometimes shocking, but always magical world of African art.

Eric Makin