Essays in Cultural Anthropology

Exploration and engagement of mainstream thoughts in several areas of Cultural Anthropology: Art and Hegemony; Agency; Religion; Gender; Conflict Resolution; and Intercultural Practices. African art is a myth. I define myths “not as falsehoods but as deeply meaningful and resonant accounts that illuminate profound enigmas.” African art is the tool of elite hegemony. African art is also a tool for the transformation of hegemony to entrench new elite. To complete the cycle and to begin it African art is a tool for political resistance for countering existing hegemony and overthrowing incumbent elite. Hegemony evokes domination supremacy dominion power and authority. However given its subtlety it is best expressed as control: hidden subconscious auto-control. Beyond and within its hegemonic functions African art has independent aesthetic value. But devoid of its socio-political foundation the worth of African art is diminished.