This ground-breaking and comprehensive survey text approaches African art from an art-historical perspective more than an anthropological perspective. A History of Art in Africa shows how African art has developed from beliefs, traditions, and cultural and historical influences. The text challenges current perceptions of African art and presents it as conceptual and intentional in its own right, rather than as intuitive or “primal” impulses, as it has been previously perceived. The text covers the entire continent of Africa, including Egypt, and incorporates the influences of Islamic and Christian religious artistic traditions as well. A discussion of contemporary African art includes the works of diaspora artists.