There are many European scholars who, in attempting to erase and devalue pre-colonial Afrikan culture, claim that the continent has no long-lasting artistic traditions. Rather, the case is that within Afrika there is little tradition of art for art's sake (as is the character of the majority art of western societies) but instead traditional African art was a functional and necessary part of everyday life. Utilitarian objects such as bowls, stools, chairs, looms, textiles and even buildings were designed with great care so as to beautify daily life as well as to represent and convey certain ideas, values or characteristics desired by the user or viewers. Sculptures also figured prominently in the religious rituals which were a central force in African life giving social cohesion through common belief and participation in ceremonial life. Though the symbols used varied widely between one community and the next, there was generally within a given community a considerable degree of consistency and thus developed a large number of reasonably discreet styles. Though artists did not follow stylistic guidelines blindly and each added their own creativity and individuality to the objects they made, the artists generally worked within defined parameters of acceptability within the culture and thus within a community there was generally a considerable degree of consistency giving rise to a number of distinct artistic traditions. Taking great inspiration from this heritage of functional art, I have created a number of works, including jewellery boxes and an ashtray, and plan to make many more!