Africa is a continent of vast proportions. It’s area of twelve million square miles is more than three times that of the United States, including Alaska. The 50 United States could be superimposed on the Sahara desert and not touch the coast of Africa at any point! Its population is about 500 million, living mostly at densities below twenty-five to the square mile, and the physical environment of the continent varies from desert to tropical rain forest. This huge variation of culture and geographical features greatly influences the art of Africa.

The art of southern Africa ranges from the Bushman rock paintings and engravings, which show the changing life of the peoples up to the present day, to the modern wood, metal and stone sculpture, pottery, basket-ware, fabric painting and bead weaving on both fabric and wire. New forms of African art have emerged in several parts of Africa, particularly Zimbabwe, where artists have taken to sculpture in hard stone which is well smoothed and then oiled. The African sculptor uses no sketchbook to practise in; his practice is in the finished sculpture, and consequently the art of the African peoples demonstrates extraordinary vigour and a brilliant sense of form. The artists of the ‘Zimbabwe school’ have been operating for over five decades, exhibit frequently overseas, and have become a regular feature of the British art scene.