Africa is one continent with several worlds. The continent of Africa covers an area of around 30 million square kilometers, one-fifth of the land mass of the earth, and has more than 50 countries. Its geographical features are diverse from Tropical Wet or Rain Forest , with rainfall of 250 to 380 centimeters to Tropical Dry areas. Mount Kilimanjaro (height 5895 meters) remains capped with snow all the year round, whereas Sahara is the largest and the hottest desert on the earth. Similarly, Africa has a diverse plant life ranging from scrub, savanna, desert shrub, and a variety of vegetation growing on mountains as well as in the tropical rain forests and deciduous forests.
Like the nature, 800 million people of Africa have evolved a cultural milieu which is a study in contrast and have several dimensions. Africa is home to innumerable tribes, ethnic and social groups, some representing very large populations consisting of millions of people, others are smaller groups of a few thousand. All these tribes and groups have cultures which are different, but represent the mosaic of cultural diversity of Africa.
Indigenous musical and dance traditions of Africa are maintained by oral traditions and they are distinct from the music and dance styles of the North Africa and the Southern Africa. Arab influences are visible in the North African music and dance and in Southern Africa western influences are apparent due to colonization.
Many African languages are tone languages, in which pitch level determines the meaning. This also finds expression in African musical melodies and rhythms. A variety of musical instruments are used, including drums (most widely used), bells, musical bow, lute, flute, and trumpet.
African dances are important mode of communication and dancers use gestures, masks, costumes, body painting and a number of visual devices. The basic movements are sometimes simple, emphasizing only the upper body or torso or the feet. Such movements are sometimes complex involving coordination of different body parts. The dances are sometimes performed solo or in small group of two or three persons. Team dances are also performed with various formations, like linear, circular, and serpentine and so on.
Africa has a rich tradition of arts and crafts. African arts and crafts find expression in a variety of wood carvings, brass and leather art works. African arts and crafts also include sculpture, paintings, pottery, ceremonial and religious headgear and dress.
African culture has always placed emphasis on personal appearance and jewelry has remained an important personal accessory. Many pieces of such jewelry are made of cowry shells and similar materials. Similarly, masks are made with elaborate designs and are important part of African culture. Masks are used in various ceremonies depicting ancestors and spirits, mythological characters and deities.
In most of traditional art and craft of Africa, certain themes significant to African culture recur, including a couple, a woman with a child, a male with a weapon or animal, and an outsider or a stranger. Couples may represent ancestors, community founder, married couple or twins. The couple theme rarely exhibit intimacy of men and women. The mother with the child or children reveals intense desire of the African women to have children. The theme is also representative of mother earth and the people as her children. The man with the weapon or animal theme symbolizes honor and power. A stranger may be from some other tribe or someone from a different country, and relatively more distorted portrayal of the stranger indicates proportionately greater gap from the stranger.