African headrests have been moved out of the category of functional objects and into the more rarefied category of 'art' objects. Styles in African headrests are usually defined in terms of western art and archaeological discourses, but this book interrogates these definitions of style through a case study of headrests of the Tellem of Mali. The notion of 'authenticity' as a fixed value in relation to African art is destabilised, while historical factors are used to demonstrate that 'authenticity', in the form sought by collectors of antique African art, is largely a construct, which has no basis in historical reality. 488pp, SOUTH AFRICA. WITWATERSRAND UNIVERSITY PRESS.

A useful collection of photographs identifying various regional sculptural traditions. Maps, 169pp, USA. DOVER.

Published to accompany an exhibition at the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History that set up a dialogue between the representation of women in Luba art with the contemporary figurative sculpture of Alison Saar. Also includes a look at the representation of women in sub-Saharan African art. Many col ill, bib, 82pp, USA. WASHINGTON U P, 0930741811

2000 DELAY paperback

A collection of African sculptures depicting couples, exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The text explains the context of the art works and the place of the couple in African world views. Illustrated in colour. 52pp, USA. YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Catalogue for the New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibition on African sculpture. 77 colour plates, 12 b/w ill, 2 maps, refs, bib, 128pp, USA. YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Mysterious and exceptionally crafted, these masks and sculptures are deciphered by African art specialist Boris Wastiau, who examines their symbolism and ritual usage, and explores the connection between the material and spiritual. Against a backdrop of allegories are more than 100 beautifully photographed works from the Museum of Ethnography in Geneva. 256pp, ITALY. FIVE CONTINENTS EDITIONS.

A unique study of the substances that are added to sculpture in the processes of both their creation and use. Illustrated with photographs, diagrams, maps and listings and descriptions of the substances used. 536pp, USA. INDIANA UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Informative book on one of the centres of Zimbabwean stone sculpture. Contains information on the project, its founder, and some of the most accomplished of the artists associated with Tengenenge. b/w illus, 116pp, NETHERLANDS. WORLD ART FOUNDATION, 9080623725

2001 paperback

This volume provides a vivid portrait of the narrative sculptures of the Fon of Dahomey combining colour photographs of the bas reliefs from the walls of the palaces with a history of Dahomey. Illustrated with colour and b/w photographs as well as rare historical images. 116pp. UK. THAMES & HUDSON, 0500281807

1999 Paperback