Material Composition Studies of African Arts: Path to Burden of Proof and Heritage Conservation

Abstract

African arts have been part of major museum collections all over the world; describing African art objects physically alone is not enough. The medium, material content, provenance, stylistics, and contextual studies are needed for classificatory and documentary purposes of African arts. A secured scientific and cultural data of African art objects would provide a database for purposes of identification and taxonomy of African art objects. Procedural papers in material compositional studies and art history were used for this discourse. The modes of research employed are qualitative and evaluative. The discourse concludes with recommendations that research institutes, museums, and African governments need to develop programs in material compositional studies for African art and museum objects because of their scientific and historical significance.