They include mythological teachings converting individual consciousness to communal consciousness. Cosmogonic rituals allow the masked dancers and the participating audience to connect to the higher cosmic order. In other words, they link the individual to eternity, and situates the individual in the cosmic order to give the individual a guideline and rules for conduct. In traditional Africa, cosmogonic masks represent supernatural forces which determine the destiny of the community. A paradigm of African cosmogony is Dogon cosmogony.
African art tends to express harmony, unity, and balance.
It is essentially a populist form. It is designed for the masses and is therefore devoid of elitism. Its main objective is to unify the community. The artist takes his or her inspiration from religious and moral values. Religion, here, must be construed as the expression of beliefs about the supernatural world and the foundation of ethics.