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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.
About the author
Anthropologist, peace scholar, lawyer, mediator, Olajide Olagunju was called to the Bar in December 1989. He pioneered the professional practice of mediation (ADR) in Nigeria, 1995. He is a 2008 Harvard University Law School Program on Negotiation research fellow and Brandeis University Sachar research scholar in Niger Delta conflict resolution.
