Masks are an essential feature of traditional African culture and have served an important role in ritual and ceremony for centuries. They are both idea and form. The artistry of African masks is self evident and, for the people who create them, they have a much deeper meaning than surface beauty. In general, the mask form is a physical mechanism to initiate transformation, whereby the wearer takes on a new entity, allowing him to have influence on the spirits to whom he is appealing to or offering thanks.
African tribal masks have long been an intriguing and captivating aspect of African culture. These masks hold extraordinary value, as they serve a variety of purposes and are embedded with rich symbolism.
Traditional masks have been incorporated within African ceremonies and cultural celebrations for thousands of years. Each mask often has a unique meaning and purpose within these ceremonies with deep cultural significance. Today, these artefacts are often used as a stylistic counterpoint to contemporary design, adding an artisanal element to modern designs. We love including traditional masks in our interior design to create a unique talking point and feature to a room.
True cultural symbols of Africa, they are declined in countless models. Very expressive and multifaceted, African masks are fascinating and attractive. They also have their place in an ethnic or exotic themed decoration. Here's what you need to know about them.
African masks are probably the most admired and well known art form of Africa for good reasons. They are both idea and form.. The Western viewer is often caught off guard by the emotions that a mask can evoke.Our intrigue can quickly be transformed to a powerful connection not often experienced in our frequently disassociated worlds. They therefore yield some notion of power which the viewer can be attracted to or repelled by.
Read also: The Meaning Behind African Masks
Masks are a prominent feature of African cultural heritage. The history, use, and symbolism of masks vary across national, ethnic, and cultural identities.
African masks are largely appropriated by Europeans, they are widely commercialized and sold in most tourist-oriented markets and shops in Africa (as well as "ethnic" shops in the Western world).
When it comes to African art, many immediately think of tribal masks.
The Cultural Heritage Preserved by Masks
While the specific implications associated with ritual masks widely vary in different cultures, some traits are common to most African cultures. For instance, masks usually have a spiritual and religious meaning, and they are used in ritual dances, social and religious events. A special status is attributed to the artists that create masks, and to those who wear them in ceremonies. In most cases, mask-making is an art that is passed on from father to son, along with the knowledge of the symbolic meanings conveyed by these masks.
The use of masks in African tribes dates back centuries and has been an integral part of their cultural heritage. These masks are not merely decorative; they possess immense spiritual and social importance.
Read also: Designs and Meanings of African Masks
Masks used for rituals conceptually transform the wearer into a spiritual being, losing their human form in the process. For instance, penitents use masks in ceremonies to disguise their identity in order to make the act of penitence more selfless. This is a transformation of the mask-wearer into a spirit, which usually relies on other practices - such as specific types of music and dance, or ritual costumes that contribute to concealing the mask-wearer's human identity.
The traditional African mask is worn during celebrations, dances and festivities and ritual ceremonies commemorating social and religious events. African masks are more often than not part of a unified experience, so while we may see them as sculptural forms, they can also be considered as a form of performance art. Understanding their function within this event is essential to appreciating their cultural, symbolic and aesthetic significance.
As the name suggests, masks are meant to mask. Concretely, they hide the identity of the wearer in order to allow him to personify a spirit, a god or some supernatural force. In the majority of African cultures, masks were originally created to be worn during certain ceremonies and rituals. These ceremonies can also be shows illustrating specific mythologies. It can be a struggle between good and evil, the anguish of death, or the mystery of origins. The performances in question take place during crucial moments in the life of the community: mourning, marriage, ritual of passage to adult life...
In addition, African masks are also considered sacred objects. In many African societies, they are perceived as a mediator between the world of the dead and the world of the living. The dancer who wears it during the ritual enters a deep trance, and comes into contact with ancestors. The dancer in question brings the messages of wisdom of the ancestors, and these are interpreted by a sage. Indeed, the messages are usually screams or grunts difficult to interpret. It should also be noted that during such rituals, masks are never worn alone, but accompanied by a costume.
In African culture, it is believed that masks serve as a vessel through which spirits and ancestors can interact with the living world. These masks are carefully crafted to depict specific spirits or ancestors, representing their qualities and characteristics.
Read also: The History of African Masks
The mask wearer can become a sort of medium that allows for a dialogue between the community and the spirits. Most times, the spirits mentioned are those of the dead, or nature-related. Masked dances are a part of most traditional African ceremonies related to weddings, funerals, initiation rites, and cleansing.
Variety in Forms and Colors
Traditionally masks were made in various forms and shapes, and the craftsmen used readily available materials to make them. Wood, ivory, metals and animal skin are some of the materials used to make them. African masks come in all different colours, such as red, black, orange, and brown.
Seeing a row of African masks from different tribal areas can show up all the contrasts of form, shape, colour, design, patterning and adornment which exist and suggest the dazzling range of formal possibilities achieved by African sculptors.
Materials used:African masks are primarily carved from wood but can also be made from terra-cotta, glazed pottery, bronze, brass, copper, ivory or leather.They are adorned and decorated with all manner of things. The mask below is from the Komo or Koma Power Association and is made from wood, bird skull, quills, horns, cotton and sacrificial materials. The elements are chosen for their metaphorical associations since they provide animals with power and protection while the animals themselves hold symbolic value in Bamana culture.
Animal Forms
Masks are often made to resemble people, animals and other objects that people identify with. Many African masks represent animals. Some African communities believe that the animal masks can help them communicate with the spirits who live in forests or open savannah.
An African mask may have some features of a human face, but there are always other non-human elements inspired by nature, or by the animal world. A common subject of African masks is the Painted Lady, usually showcasing characteristics of the culture's ideal of feminine beauty. It celebrates vision and age, hence its refined features. Each mask will look different in different regions depending on the people's ideals of feminine beauty.
Animals are common subjects in African masks. Animal masks typically embody the spirit of animals, so that the mask-wearer becomes a medium to speak to animals themselves (e.g. to ask wild beasts to stay away from the village); in many cases, nevertheless, an animal is also (sometimes mainly) a symbol of specific virtues.
Common animal subjects include the buffalo (usually representing strength, as in the Baoulé culture),[13] crocodile, hawk, hyena, warthog and antelope. Antelopes have a fundamental role in many cultures of the Mali area (for example in Dogon and Bambara culture) as representatives of agriculture.[14] Dogon antelope masks are highly abstract, with a general rectangular shape and many horns (a representation of abundant harvest.
Some Masks Cover the Entire Body
While most masks cover only the face, there are full body masks such as this seclusion mask used by the Maa community.
This is an ideal illustration of a full-body mask in use. The Tiriki boy depicted is wearing a mask after circumcision. This mask is exclusively worn by initiates for a period of six months, during which they are in seclusion while in training for adulthood.
Marks of Authority
In the past, masks were used to associate the wearer with some kind of unimpeachable authority. This means that influential people in society used to wear masks as a symbol of power and authority.
When a ruler such as a chief or a king died, people used to make masks which resembled that person, so as to honor him. Traditional African masks are like portals into another world. They reveal stories, beliefs, and rituals that have shaped communities for millennia. These aren’t just beautiful objects to admire from a distance.
Ritual Contexts for Masks
In rituals, African masks represent deities, mythological beasts and gods; metaphors for good and evil, the dead, animals, nature and any other force that is considered more powerful than man himself. Music (primarily drums), dance, song and prayer are all tools used to induce a state of trance by which this transformation can occur.
During religious rituals, masks have the function of representing the supernatural. It is for this reason that they are never really realistic about the features they wear.
A Function of Protection Against the Forces of Evil
In popular belief, African masks are often associated with witchcraft. Yet, on the contrary, the members of a tribe use them primarily to protect themselves from the forces of evil. They are also assigned a function of protection against diseases and other scourges, while ensuring the safety of the population.
Most of the Kenyan communities were not sexually permissive and, when fertility rituals were conducted, the participants usually disguised themselves to avoid social stigma. The people who conducted the rituals could not perform without masks, showing that masks gave them the courage to go on and perform.
The Design of African Masks
The design of African masks is done in a traditional way. They are entirely handmade. The carving is done on wood by skilled craftsmen. In some African tribes, the choice of wood to use is essential. Some trees considered to have harmful energies should not be used. Only woods that do not weaken the power of the carved image are allowed. The sculpture of an African mask requires real know-how in order to perpetuate the beliefs of the tribe.
Each mask will look different in different regions depending on the people's ideals of feminine beauty. In many cases, wearing masks that represent feminine beauty is strictly reserved to men. One of the most well-known representations of a similar mask is the Idia mask of Benin. It is believed to have been commissioned by King Esigie of Benin in memory of his mother.
Master carvers of masks do still exist; it is a skill that earns respect within a community and a tradition that is passed down within a family through many generations.Carvers undergo many years of specialized apprenticeship until achieving mastery of the art. It is creative work that not only employs complex craft techniques but also requires spiritual, symbolic and social knowledge. For the African artist, the purpose of creating the mask was achieved once the ritual performance was over. There was no attachment to the piece but the skill and the experience is carried forward and handed down the line of descendants.
Possible Variations of African Masks
African masks stand out for their very wide declination according to the tribes. They also perform various functions and are used in different ways depending on the expected results.
The Type of Representation
The mask can reproduce either the features of a human face, or reproduce the face of an animal, or a half-human, half-animal composite face. It can also combine the characteristics of several animals. In some cases, the mask may represent a completely abstract face.
The Colors Used
These decorative objects are available in various colors. You can opt for monochrome models (usually black or brown) for a more sober decoration. Multicolored masks, on the other hand, bring good mood everywhere in your home.
Size
The height of African masks usually varies from 10 cm to about 1 m. You therefore have a wide choice depending on the available wall surface you have to hang them.
Animals and Grounds
Several types of animals, patterns and symbols can be drawn or engraved on the decorative African mask. You can choose between turtles, snakes, fish, birds, giraffes, rhinos or flowers, or tribal motifs.
How to Use African Masks in Decoration?
Over time, encouraged by the phenomenon of globalization, the use of African masks has evolved. Without losing their cultural vocation, they have also become elements of home decoration very appreciated in Africa, but also on other continents. Indeed, once hung on the walls, they contribute to creating a highly appreciated cosmopolitan style of decoration as evidenced by the rise of the ethnic trend.
To compose the decoration of a place with African masks, it is first necessary to choose the location. Indoors, they can be arranged on a clearly visible section of wall. For the visual effect to be successful, it will be necessary to play on the color contrasts. If your African mask is light in color, hang it on a wall in dark tones. Conversely, a dark-colored African mask will need to be hung on a light wall.
When an African mask is placed outdoors, think about protect it from the sun and rain so that the wood retains its strength and original appearance. It will therefore be necessary to apply a water-repellent product (possibly including an anti-UV treatment to avoid the phenomenon of discoloration) as a layer of stain. This treatment should be renewed every 1 to 2 years if necessary.
The Price of an African Mask
The price of an African mask varies greatly depending on the country of origin, the wood used, and the complexity of the carving work. The time of manufacture can also significantly influence the price, but be aware that antique masks can be considered heritage objects and their trade is therefore regulated. Given these elements, the price of an African mask starts at around 10 € for the most affordable models, and can exceed 1000 € for rare models.
Table: Symbolic Meaning of Colors in African Masks
| Color | Symbolic Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Vitality, Power, Sacrifice |
| White | Purity, Spirituality, Ancestral Presence |
We hope you enjoyed learning more about the history and cultural significance behind our Ghanaian masks. We love their eye-catching designs and think the meanings behind each one is simply fascinating. Which mask would you choose to hang in your home?
Here's what you need to know about them.
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