Let us have a look at the importance of colours found in african fabrics online. Provide the class with reading materials, including books and internet links. This type of mask performs at village festivals and. As they are worn across many different cultures, the colors of african masks have multiple meanings. The inherent lack of realism in african masks and african art in general is justified by the fact that most african cultures clearly distinguish the essence of a subject from its looks, the former, rather than the latter, being the actual subject. In ethnic art the colour was always vegetable, sometimes mixed with sacrificial blood or some magical substance. Jan 08, 2020 the history of african mask collecting has gone through several stages since europeans began to collect masks in the 19 th century during their colonial forays into africa. Diverse education professionals learned about african cultures in a workshop experience by making african masks using authentic symbolism.
Our african mask lessons will enhance your knowledge and understanding of african tribal masks. It was applied to the mask during special rituals in order to ensure its magical power. African masks are one of the most widely recognized african art forms. The dancing is exhausting, remember they have poor visibility behind the masks, are covered with itchy materials, and are balancing the masks. African clothing can also be a symbol of creativity, status and allegiance to african tribal roots. A young artist from the konate family of smiths in the village of ouri, bwa artist, burkina faso, 1985. The ancient greeks practiced polytheism, meaning belief in many gods.
In many cultures, masks are an important part of traditional rituals. They, therefore, have types, meanings behind them and even things to be noted about wearing them. African masks to color click on the mask to move to the coloring page. Masks are created for a reason such as to insure fertile crops. We also host african mask quizzes so you may test what you have learned. However, several common meanings can be found for three colors. They adorn the walls of some of the most recognized museums and galleries across the world. Ceremonial african masks as you watch, notice the large variety of masks, but pay close attention to the elephant masks. All over africa, visual images and ordinary objects are used symbolically to communicate knowledge, feelings and values. They often were made to represent the spirits of ancestors or of certain local deities. The important thing to remember is that they are constantly evolving and new influences in current societies are reflected in new motifs. For in stance, masks usually have a spiritual and religious meaning. Among the people who wear african masks, there are the traditional healers, rainmakers, and young boys during their initiation into adulthood.
This lesson explores meanings and designs of african masks. The term african aesthetic refers to the african perception and appreciation of the nature, beauty, and value of artistic expressions or representations of african origin. For thousands of years, african peoples have used masks in ceremonies. The inherent lack of realism in african masks and african art in general is justified by the fact that most african cultures clearly distinguish the essence of a subject from its looks, the former, rather than the latter, being the actual subject of artistical. This lesson includes bell work, an objective, and then a 30 minute lesson about tribal african masks and african culture. Our african mask lessons will introduce you to a range of african masks and the people who use them. Never in my life did i think i would see adinkra symbols in a marvel movie. Africa, a diverse continent thats home to many tribes or groups of people, has a rich history of making and wearing masks. African masks free presentations in powerpoint format.
The spiritual meaning and symbolism behind african animals. Oct 18, 2017 african masks are greatly appreciated for their artistic value. Used by the bete and yoruba people, these masks have the main purpose of keeping sorcerers feared by the bete at bay. This is the perfect lesson to teach students about tribal african masks. Lead the discussions on the meanings of colors and patterns utilized in african masks. Art and trade in the west african coast at the national museum of african art. A brief history and cultural jamison rieger artist. Masks usually are worn at ceremonies with dances and music or they will be worn in a parade. African mask ceremonies are held by many different people for many different reasons. African masks often represent a spirit and it is strongly believed that the spirit of the ancestors possesses the wearer. Bamileke elephant masks rand african art elephants are the worlds most commanding land creatures, unsurpassed in grandeur and power.
Being aware of, and having understanding of the nature and function of symbolism as a form of communication in both current and historical cultures will help provide understanding of the pattern of thoughts and feelings of contemporary african cultures. Each animal has a specific meaning and signifies a certain quality or characteristic. The african style of masquerade is an outdoor event, performed by men, and sometimes limited to the attendance of men. Traditional african masks national museum of ghana. Belief in the supernatural forces calls for the use of special ritual objects. No matter how beautiful and well crafted a coffin might. African masks mask making is a major tradition in west and central african. He that beats the drum for the mad man to dance is no better than the mad manhimself. For african tribes, the power of the african mask lies in its creation. For instance, nwantantay masks used by the bwa of burkina.
A bird that flies off the earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground. In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content. You can find african masks hanging in many museums and on sale. There are so many different masks as there are cultures. Some masks arent simple objects that are meant to be worn for halloween or other holidays. African mask are usually shaped after a human face or some animals muzzle, albeit rendered in a sometimes highly abstract form. African masks are usually shaped after a human face or some animals muzzle, albeit rendered in a sometimes highly abstract form. As a final assessment and activity, students get to make their own tribal mask. Traditional african masks are one of the elements of great african art that have most evidently. With the addition of a west african tribal mask to your homes design scheme, you will find that your walls come alive with the exotic energy of the world from which your newest piece originated. After a discussion of their impressions of the online masks, the students will hear several folktales from african cultures. There are as many specific meanings to african masks as there are designs for.
A mask, for the african, is an instrument of ritual, and without the costume, dancer, music, gathering of the tribe, and sacred place, a mask is meaningless. The significance of masks in africa is closely associated with the cultural and traditional meanings that african people assign to them. At first, europeans treated masks as ethnographic objects, and displayed them in natural history museums alongside taxidermied animals, exotic plant remains and fossils. They come to life, possessed by their spirit in the performance of the dance, and are enhanced by both. The purpose of focusing on masks in the workshop described by this article. Unmasking the meaning behind color in african art baltimore sun. In fact, in most of the tribal cultures that make and dance in masks, there exists no word for art. Reading together will show how storytelling is used along with masks and costumes to preserve and pass on the societys values, morals, religion, and traditional and historical heritage.
While the specific implications associated with rit ual ma sks widely vary in different cultures, some traits are common to most afr ican cultures. Native african cultures many of africas native cultures used masks as part of their religious ceremonies, as well as part of ceremonial costumes. As has been mentioned, various tribes in africa have their own masks and some of these masks are ritual and ceremonial. The dan classify their masks into two types, masculine and feminine. Many african societies see african masks as mediators between the living world and the supernatural world of the dead, ancestors and other entities. As symbols play such an important role in the african conception of reality, a sound understanding of african patterns of thought and feeling requires an appreciation of the nature and function of symbolism as a medium of communication in african culture. African masks are fascinating objects that can be simple or elaborate. Chapter 2 the masks of africa california state university. Common types of african masks include face masks, which fit over the front of the wearers face. Our african mask lessons will introduce you to a range of african masks and the people who use them examples of african masks. A dancer wearing the mask was sometimes thought to be possessed by the spirit represented by the mask he wore. Some examples of known african masks and their meanings. Ritual ceremonies generally depict deities, spirits of ancestors, mythological beings, good and or evil, the dead, animal spirits, and other beings believed to have power over humanity. Show students video clips on african masks and mask dancing.
May 18, 2016 africa is a beautiful and majestic land, rich with lush plantlife and magnificent animals. Many of us incorporate masks into our homes to add an exotic flair to our decor, but it is important to recognize that beneath their surface beauty, these mysterious faces possess a deeper significance. Below we take a look at the various types of african masks and their meaning. Red is often used to represent blood spilled during wars or childbirth. The masks are used for ceremonial and religious purposes. The film takes us to a journey of discovery in museums and galleries, of the everyday objects and the cult ones, of the mysterious fetishes and masks. Some of the masks you see in this clip weigh as much as 75 pounds. The animals play a huge part in african culture, and their symbolism can be found throughout countless pieces of art and historical accouterments. The feminine type of mask, such as the tankagle shown here, has an oval face and narrow sliteyes.
Each african mask is made according to a traditional style, and a trained performer wears each african mask for a certain traditional ceremony. Oct 30, 2017 african clothing can also be a symbol of creativity, status and allegiance to african tribal roots. Ritual and ceremonial masks are an essential feature of the traditional culture of the peoples of a part of subsahara n afric a, e. From cloth of the great, a gallery handout for the 1992 exhibition elimina. African art the market of masks documentary of 2015 youtube. Thus elephant masks, while rare in africa, are fully appropriate symbols of important leaders or, at least, their respected deputies or messengers. The yoruba people believe that the masks embody the spirit of deceased ones and so feel that a person wearing such masks could speak to the souls of the dead. They are used in religious and social events to represent the spirits of ancestors or to control the good and evil forces in the community. The geometric patterns incised on masks are called scars by the bwa, and they are identical to the scars worn by the men and women in the community. Magical faces of africa musee of paris, in english make an african mask. From that moment masks were made and used in thousands of different ways and became inseparable from our lives. West african masks incorporating any style or genre of artwork to your home decor is a wonderful way to fall back in love with your house. Every nation and tribe makes their masks a little differently, so they are all unique to the area where they are made.
The masks made in africa are worldfamous objects of art and have had a major. Shapes and colors of african masks are tribe specific, thus they are used as parameters to locate the mask s origin. The style and composition of traditionally styled african masks are typically influenced by the social and religious beliefs of the community they are being designed to represent. Once obscure, these west african symbols now take the spotlight in the worlds third largest movie industry, hollywood. Exploring the history and artistry of african masks. Dan masks embody spirits of the forest who request through dreams that masks be made so they can appear before the people. The african mask plays a constant sacred role in the life of the individual from early childhood until burial. Analysis of reflections to evaluate the workshop for. Jul 21, 2017 the film takes us to a journey of discovery in museums and galleries, of the everyday objects and the cult ones, of the mysterious fetishes and masks of the art of our neighbouring continent.