It explores how art both structures and selectively disseminates secret knowkledge in Africa. The book makes two main points : first, art is intimately related to knowledge in Africa, being fundamental to processes of teaching and revelation that confer status and disclose information, meanings and symbols; and second, secrets are often essential to the making, ownership, use and interpretation of art. The essays in the book - by 13 Africanist scholars who explore relationships among art, secrecy, knowledge and power in African societies.