Blog #7 West African Mask Making
Welcome back everyone! In this blog I will be covering West African mask making. Masks are very central to African culture, and the traditional of masking is related to the continent's history of extravagant masquerades.
Shown above is an example of an African masquerade.
(The Mardi Gras, the Canboulay and the Persistence of Africa, Artistis' Coalition of Trinidad and Tobago.)
Masquerades were theorized to have developed around 3000-2500 BCE among the Bantu people. However there are hypothesized mystical origins as well, according to an Igbo legend masquerades were introduced by a villager who utilized masked figures to ward off opponents during disputes over land. Others argue the masquerades developed from male elders as a form of social control as women are not allowed to participate in masquerade activities.
Despite the different theories of origin, the symbolization of the masks are the same. They can symbolize the dead, totem animals and supernatural forces. The masquerader actually turns into the spirit displayed by the mask through the form of song and dance. The importance of the spirit being invoked is demonstrated by the artistic complexity of the mask while the masqueraders movements exemplify the spirt they are portraying. The kple kple mask of the Baoule people is an example of a "less important" spirit as exemplified by its minimal features.
Shown above is the. kple mask used in thee Goli festival of the Baoule people.
(Kple Kple Mask, Christas.dk)
For example, plank masks symbolize natural world water spirits such as insects or waterfowl. Because of this, the masquerader moves in rapid movements, imitating a spirit that can fly.
Stylish elements of the masks are determined by tradition or the symbolize specific meanings. This can be shown in the Bwa and Buna peoples hawk masks where the shape of the beak distinguishes the mask as either Bwa or Buna. However both have the same traditional stylistic elements. The hawks wings have geometric patterns with saw shaped lines representing paths taken by ancestors while checkered patterns represent interactions between opposites such as night and day.
There are more examples of tradition shown in masks. The Senufo people of the Ivory Coast created half closed eyes in their masks to symbolize peace, self-control and patience. In contrast the Grebo of the Ivory Coast customize masks with round eyes to represent alertness and anger and a straight nose signifiying an unwillingness to retreat. To the people of Sierra Leonon, small eyes and mouths represent humility and a wide forehead is representative of wisdom.
Animals can be used in African masks, and once put on the masquerader becomes able to speak to animals. This can be done to ask for favors, for example to ask an animal to stay away from the village. Animal mask are also used to signify virtues, antelopes are for agriculture and buffalos for strength.
There can also be several animal traits in one mask, this is usually to demonstrate high status. The Senufo people merge antelope horns, crocodile teeth and warthog fangs to celebrate the power of their Poor secret societies.
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