Tribal masks
- Bwa, Mossi and Nuna of Burkina Faso.
- Dan of Liberia and Ivory Coast.
- Dogon and Bamana of Mali.
- Fang (Punu) and Kota of Gabon.
- Yorubo, Nubo, Igbo and Edo of Nigeria.
- Senufo and Grebo, Baule (Guro) and Ligbi (Koulango) of Ivory Coast.
- Temne, Gola and Sande (Sowei) of Sierra Leone.
- Bambara of Mali.
How were African tribal masks made?
They are made from wood, pottery, textiles, copper and bronze. Details could be made from animal teeth, hair, bones and horns as well as feathers, seashells and even straw and egg shells. African masks are most commonly shaped like a human face or a muzzle of some animal.
What African masks mean?
Traditional African masks play an important role in certain traditional African rituals and ceremonies. Some masks represent the spirits of deceased ancestors. Others symbolize totem animals, creatures important to a certain family or group.
What do African masks symbolize?
Why do African tribes wear masks?
African people believe that power exists in these masks, especially in the way they are created. Africans also wear them to inspire rain for their harvest, cast out spirits, denote identity and heal.CultureMasks were originally made to remember ancestors and to keep their spirits alive.
What are the different types of African masks?
Common types of African masks include face masks, which fit over the front of the wearer’s face; helmet masks, which fit over the entire head; and forehead masks, which rest of the forehead and are tilted downward to make the mask look at someone. Cultures with masking traditions include the Baule people who use masks in a festival called goli.
What is the history of the African masks?
African masks have a rich varied history. They have been used in African rituals and ceremonies for a long time. It is believed that the earliest masks originated during the Paleolithic era. They were and still are believed to represent the spirits of animals or ancestors and mythological heroes.
What do the symbols on African masks mean?
African masks represent the spirit that the wearer is trying to contact or the emotions of the person attempting to initiate the contact. These masks are usually worn as part of a ritual or ceremony. History of Masks notes that masks can be used to represent animal spirits, ancestors or mythological heroes.
