When it comes to art, the symbols and themes prevalent in art that originates from Africa is diverse owing to Africa’s size as a continent, and the fact that this vast continent is home to numerous rich cultures. As much as there is diversity though, certain prominent themes are recurrent and dominant. 

The three most commonly found themes are a woman and child, a man with an animal or weapon, and a couple in various forms.  

Couples or twin figures
When two human figures are represented in African art, it is significant that they are presented as being of equal stature, irrespective of whether they’re male or female. It symbolises the strong value African people attach to the notion of togetherness and working together.

You would be hard-pressed to find African art with any form of sexual connotation. That’s because it’s inappropriate to show affection in public in African culture. Therefore, where male and female impressions are present together, the intention is to symbolise honour, a good reputation and strength in unity. Any reading of romance or sex in this kind of figurine would be misguided. 

Mother and child
The popular mother and child representation is mostly a reflection of Mother Earth as the mother, with the people living on earth as the child. The value and wealth of an African female is often determined by her ability to give birth to healthy children, as well as the number of children she is able to carry. This is why the emphasis on motherhood is extremely important in African culture. 

Man and animals
A man with an animal or weapon is commonly misinterpreted as symbolising the act of hunting in the wild. In most cases the purpose of the animal is to compliment and show the status of the man.

In some illustrations, a horse is used to show respect and honour to the departed ancestors. 

Interpretation and meaning
Regrettably, most art from the African continent does not come with some kind of descriptive interpretation unless you are fortunate enough to buy it from the original artist who can explain the meaning behind his or her creation.

In the rare event that you are lucky enough to get hold of the interpretation, the work of art you have is bound to be that much richer. African culture is amongst the richest on the planet and if you bother to acquaint yourself with the relevant background, you will be drawn into an experience more rewarding than you could have imagined.