African Masks
|
The following is a general over view of African Masks.
There are still places in Africa where genuine old masks can be bought, generally through dealers. Also watch out for fakes as they do abound. Remember buy things you like as investment can go up as well as down. If you like that carving or mask then the value is not as important.
The African masks of this area are well documented by Ladislas Segy in Masks of Black Africa. Much of the following section on African Masks is influenced by his work.
The African masking traditions of this part of the World are extremely fertile and varied. The traditions supporting the masks are generally associated with the spirits of ancestors, rites of passage, fertility and initiation ceremonies. Dance is generally involved in the use of the masks. Segy lists the following types of ritual:-
Rituals of cosmology, myth and mythological heroes or animals
Fertility rites
Rituals for increase
Agricultural festivals
Rituals for rites of passage
Ancestor cults
Initiations including secret societies
Related Ceremonies
Masks can be used for different ceremonies often having multiple purposes. The size and style of masks are diverse, depicting animals, human faces and more abstract styles in sizes from a few centimetres to 4.5 metres in the case of the Dogon Iminana ( mother mask ). With only a few exceptions the masks are all part of a full costume and not just an isolated piece of decoration..
Segy notes:-
Face coverings
Helmet masks
Headdresses Masks with prominent breasts
Amulets
Insignia of grade
Crowns of bead work
Materials
Wood The major material was wood due to the large forest and range of species available. The choosing of a tree from which to make a mask was not as we might do today, find one and chop it down. Rather the carver would seek the help of a diviner and undergo a purification ceremony and when the first blow was struck he would drink some of the sap in order to form a brotherhood with the tree?s spirit. Mask would be carved from one piece of wood with nothing jointed, with some of the masks this created severe technical difficulties when the early carvers only had simple tools.
Usually green timber was used as this was easier to cut. Certain vvarieties would be used for some special masks, but in general the softer woods were used
Ivory was used by the Warega and Benin. The ivory was the property of the Benin kings (Oba) and they were the only ones to wear ivory as a mark of office. The carving of the Warega was not as refined but has a strong impact.
Brass was used by the Benin, Senufo and Ashanti.
Other Materials Knitted materials were used as were beadwork, basketry and fabrics.
Additional materials included :- shells, beads, twigs, bark, teeth, hair, beaten or repousse metal, vegetable fibres and skin, to mention a few.
West Africa
The masks of this area are well documented by Ladislas Segy in Masks of Black Africa. His book lists the following areas:-
Guinea-Bissau
Republic of Guinea
Sierra Leone
Mali
Liberia
Ivory Coast Upper
Volta
Ghana
Nigeria Cameroon
Within each of these countries can be found ancient traditions associated with individual tribes displaying common links. The areas associated with some groups cross boundaries. The names of the different tribes is too extensive to list at the moment.
Equatorial Africa
Congo Zaire Zambia
Similar themes and traditions are found with the masks from this area when compared with those of the Western countries. In the early Fifteenth Century the well established Kongo people had close contact with the Portuguese and later some converted to Christianity. This has had some influence on the type of festivities and masks. The Kongo dominated various tribes in the area of these the Woyo and Yombe produced notable mask The Ndunga masks of the Woyo were larger than life size and had projecting foreheads large cheeks with small eyes, the surface of these faces was painted with white or brightly coloured asymmetrical designs.
The Western Pende on the Kwilu River in Zaire have two major types of mask. The Minhajl, which represent the ancestors and the Mbuya which represent various village characters such as the fool, the prostitute, the chief etc. These masks are used in the reinforcement of socialcontrol. The amusing performances are brightened by the triangular faces of the masks with bulging eyes, open mouths containing carved teeth painted in a variety of colours. The more powerful Minganji masks are simpler circular forms made from raffia with tubular eyes and no other features. All the masks are constructed in secret away from the village.
In the Makenda circumcision ceremony the Mbuya appear from out of the bush and dance in the village square until dusk. As the sky darkens, Minganji, masked dancers, materialise and move around the village at a distance, helping to develop the sense of awe and unease. In the secret circumcision camp the initiated youths are allowed to handle the mask as they are now fully fledged members of the society.
Many other styles are found in these areas.
East Africa
Tanzania and Mozambique are both home to the Mekonde one of the best know tribe of mask makers in East Africa. The Mekonde masks come in various styles, the southern groups using the helmet type. The features of these masks are often realistic and are worn with a cloth covering the head of the dancer. Scarification is used. The characters represented are familiar to the local people:- the old man, the doctor, the young woman and the Arab, some animal masks are found.
Over view
It must be noted that the masks of Africa represent a wealth of forms and designs which have been well collected and catalogued. The total range is by no means represented here. The common connections between the masks and the different groups are obviously strong.
Would you like regular updates on the Masking World?
Đ Ian Bracegirdle 2004 1 Elderberry Close East Morton BD20 5WA UK 01535 692207
http://mask-and-more-masks.com You may use this article freely on condition that you include this copyright line and URL and that people who subsequently use this article follow the same conditions. Thank you for accepting these conditions.
Ian Bracegirdle 2004 1 Elderberry Close East Morton BD20 5WA UK 01535 692207 http://mask-and-more-masks.com
Teacher, Course Leader, Mask maker. Ian has studied and taught masks making and information for several years. He sees masks as a link back to our cultural origins.
|
|
|
Bad Mouthing Fellow Authors
The creative mind is a gift to humanity; but unfortunately it comes with some baggage. We often find people who are creative also have negative and self-defeating personal c...(related: Humanities)
The Contingencies Of Despair: How Existentialists Survive
~ Dread is dizziness unto freedom-freedom that gazes down into its own possibility. In this dizziness freedom succumbs. ~An individual awakes as he usually does, uses the bathroom and brushes his teeth as he usually does, and goes to the kitchen for his usual bowl of Slurpy O's cereal. But his new housekeeper has shopped for him the day before and unable to find Slurpy O's has brought to his cupboard four different brands of oats and rices, hoping one will satisfy him until she can find his usual. When he reaches to open the cabinet and see the options of ?.., he stops, stuck for thought, stuck for making a decision. He absolutely cannot wrap his brain around this early morning choice and so he eats nothing. [1] This is, in small p...(related: Humanities)
Debussy And Gamelan According To A 150 Year Old Man
Hello!If you haven't been transported by the mesmerizing sounds of Gamelan yet, we highly recommend you hear some. It will change the song you can't stop singing. (As much as you love Whitney's "I Will Always Love You" it's time Kevin Costner carried her out of your brain.)Gamelan is like musical crack. Claude Debussy, French Composer. got addicted to it and it changed his whol...(related: Humanities)
Learn Chinese Language Tips And Techniques
There's no doubt learning any foreign language requires effort, time and commitment. This holds true even more, especially when there's a big difference between one's native tongue and learning a new language.On the other side, knowing the tips and techniques of learning a new language can make all the difference on how effective and successful you can achieve.Based on personal learning experiences, along with others(either online...(related: Humanities)
Spainīs Flag - A Red And Yellow Beauty
Spainīs flag (the national one) is as colorful as the country itself with its red and yellow horizontal triband.The yellow stripe is in the middle and is twice as tall as each red band, and the height of the flag is two-thirds the width.A simplified version of Spainīs coat-of-arms is pictured on the yellow band, towards the hoist side.The Spanish coat-of-arms includes the royal seal, framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which represent Gibraltar and Ceuta on ...(related: Humanities)
Precious Stones The Big Five - Part 4 The Diamond
The diamond is generally regarded as the premier gem in the world of precious stones.Of all the precious stones the diamond has the simplest composition; it is merely crystallized carbon. The most common substance that is known, a substance that is present in every plant, animal and mineral on the earth.Diamonds come mostly from the mines in South Africa, but are also found in Brazil, India, Australia and even in the United States.The diamond is the hardest substance known, being #10 on the Mohl scale, despite it's hardness, the diamond is not indestructible; diamond will cut diamond; it can be burne...(related: Humanities)
Her Last Day In Court
"Ron, I can't take much more of his sleazy behavior! I really don't think you are going to win this case for me anyway. I've lost everything; at least I can have the pleasure of making sure the jury knows their judge is another sexual power tripper, going in to his chambers to satisfy himself with the bailiff while he screws me over under the law! I don't...""Gloria, we still have Coach Nestorovic and the jury could be 'hung'. They already see what the judge is doing. Please let me 'do my thing'!""Sure! Easy for you to say! You get paid while risking nothing. You didn't have a thing to lose. I had to sell my house to pay your bill. This whole system ...(related: Humanities)
Precious Stones ? The Big Five - Part 3 The Sapphire
The sapphire, protector of the innocent, celestial guardian of truth, bringer of health and youth, symbol of the heavens and birthstone for the month of September, is in fact the same stone as the ruby, the mineral corundum.The blue corundum, ranging in color fro...(related: Humanities)
Lance Armstrong Bracelets: Fashion Accessories For A Worthy Cause
Lance Armstrong bracelets, the yellow rubber wrist bands inscribed with the motto LiveStrong, are tangible parts of champion American cyclist Lance Armstrong's legacy. Diagnosed with testicular cancer on October 2, 1996, Armstrong battled with the disease and didn't let it get in the way of his will to wear the yellow jersey once again to compete in the Tour de France cycling tournament. In partnership with sports apparel firm Nike, he started selling his Lance Armstrong bracelets for a dollar apiece, with the profits going to the Lance Armstrong Foundation to fund cancer research.It is not so surprising to find that the Lance Armstrong bracelets have become a cultural phenomenon. Aside from being very affordable, people ...(related: Humanities)
Mythology And Parables In Modern Communication - Part 4
At the end of Part 3 in this series I was using my own Inspirational experiences as examples of how Self and Soul can erupt into your life. After the book manuscripts stopped flowing, music stepped in to take its place. I had not played the guitar in 20 years and all of a sudden I was being inspired to write song lyrics. Seven years later there are over 125 songs in my songbook, half of which have been put to music. My testimony here is factual. I've lived what I'm writing about in this mini-course. And through my years of practice I saw Inspiration, with Self & Soul behind the scenes, b...(related: Humanities)
site-map - Copyright © 2006 humanities.myinfohut.info | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved. | Humanities