African art and religion
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The African people have strong ties to both art and religion. Due to this, it is not uncommon for the two to intertwine. One of the measures Westerners seem to use in judging African art is whether Africans produce "art for art's sake." We now consider art as something hanging on a wall. However, in the past, very little European, or Western influenced art, was made to hang on the walls of museums. Almost all Western art had a role to play in the religious or political life of the community until the latter part of the 19th century. Using this fact, it is easier to understand the role of art in African society.
Africans make art for life's sake. Life to many Africans is solely based on and around there religious beliefs. They make a great deal of their art not to hang on walls, but to use in religious ceremonies...