A Tree Cannot Make a Forest

What is it about?

This first word for this volume of African Arts highlights the various collaborative artistic projects on the African continent and the major key players. Using examples of sayings from the Bemba of Zambia and the Yoruba of Nigeria, the paper points to the potency of African proverbs as sources of theoretical frameworks in examining art and other cultural properties in Africa. It draws the attention of scholars to what could be shared within Global Souths in terms of an available knowledge base that could be used to forge ahead rather than subjecting thoughts and knowledge to the Global North.

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Why is it important?

This paper is important because, as the Yoruba say, igi kan kò leè dá gbó se—“A tree cannot make a forest.” Artists and scholars on the continent should continue to look for ways to reach out, collaborate and address issues of sharing knowledge and knowing more about one another for the benefit of the art on the continent and in the Diaspora.

Perspectives