Ishengoma, Emmanuel2019-08-132020-01-072019-08-132020-01-072012Ishengoma, E(2012), Authenticity through informal art education in contemporary african visual arts:the official Artists’ Viewpoint, master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at(http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx?parentpriref=)http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2396Available in print formThis study was designed to find out how African official artists define authenticity in their own art and presents their current viewpoints in regard to informal art education being a criterion for authenticity. The study made use of questionnaires and oral interviews to collect data from a total of 72 senior staff and the graduate art students from major art institutions in the selected countries namely Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa and other parties relevant to this study. The study found no relationship between authenticity and informal art education. Generally, out of the 72 (100%) respondents, 51 (71%) disagreed with the notion that relates the two, while only 8 (11%) supported the conception. Data shows that all the 72 respondents were well aware of the conception. It was concluded that the notion was fictitious, based on the western problem of expecting a particular kind of artworks from Africa that meets their preconceived Eurocentric generalization; a style that fits a rather condescending Western stereotype of what African painting should be, but which in turn, created a gap of which the art dealers have made good use and perpetuated the notion for their financial gain. It was recommended that since the most exploited is the African informally trained artist, leaving both the dealers and the Western market satisfied: the dealer having made sales and the market having received the expected ‘authentic’ artwork: the art-related institutions in Africa should educate the informally trained artist on issues surrounding their art on one hand, but the dealers too, on what they should expect from these artists at this particular time in history.enVisual artsEducationAfricaThesis