Although African art has always been contemporary to its producers, the term "contemporary African art" implies a particular kind of art that has conquered, or, as some would say, has been absorbed by the international art world and art market since the 1980s.
Vaikka afrikkalainen taide on aina ollut nykytaidetta sen tekijöille, sana "Afrikan nykytaide" merkitsee tietynlaista taidetta, joka on valloittanut, tai kuten jotkut sanovat, jonka kansainvälinen taidemarkkina on omaksunut 1980-luvulta lähtien.