Mask, Cameroon, late 19th- early 20th century. National Museum of African Art.
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The vast African continent, which has radically divergent topography, climate, and natural resources, is populated by over one thousand cultural groups. Thus, the history of African art includes a rich and varied body of work. Artists have used a wide variety of styles and techniques ranging from textile arts to sculpture to mask making.
The University of St. Thomas Libraries have a wealth of information in print and online about the artists and their art. For a concise overview of the topic, head to Oxford Art Online for the introductory essay, "Africa."
Africana: the encyclopedia of the African and African American experience by 
Encyclopedia of Precolonial Africa; archaeology, history, languages, cultures, and environments by 
Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History by 
Culture and Customs of Africa (20 separate titles)