Covering the art of Southern Africa, this book brings together a compilation of works made of wood, metal, bone and rhinoceros horn, such as objects ranging from ornamental adornments, kitchen implements, prestige staffs, dance wands, figures for initiation ceremonies, figures for secret stages of personal growth, and objects for battle.

The objects were mostly brought back to Europe in the late 18th and 19th centuries by missionaries and travellers and then ended up in collections in many countries.