Articles

History of Africa: Ancient Africa; Africa during the Colonial Period, Part One; Africa during the Colonial Period, Part Two; Independence: The Challenges of Reconstruction
Poverty in Africa: Poverty in Africa; Poverty has a variety of causes; African Women’s Cooperatives and Fair Trade: A Lasting Solution to Poverty; What is Fair Trade and How Can it Relieve Poverty?
War and Children: Children Soldiers in Africa
Special Issues: Water, the liquid gold of Africa; The HIV-AIDS Epidemic in Africa
African Art: Masks in Africa; Masks in Africa, part 2

African masks, Part One

When most people hear the word mask, they think of something that looks a lot like a person’s head. They also imagine it being worn on someone’s face like a Halloween mask.

But in Africa, masks come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are very tall and heavy and are worn on the head like a helmet. Others are in the shape of a tent which people get into and dance inside of. And of course, there is the commonly known type of mask which looks similar to a human face.

You will find masks made of any combination of these materials:

Beads (glass, plastic, clay, wood, etc…)
Wood
Grass or straw
Leather
Fabric or cloth
Metal (everything from tin to gold)
String or twine

In North America and Europe, collectors have always considered masks made of metals of special value. This is probably because of these masks last so long. Also, many masks made of gold or bronze were made for important members of African society such as kings or chiefs, so people who collect them find that more interesting than a mask worn by just anyone.

Let’s take an example to help you understand:

It is always good to have the guidance of your ancestors. If a king or queen wanted to have a place for their ancestors to live, they could have a mask made for them. Then the king would wear the mask around their neck like a necklace and would always be influenced by the kinfolk when making important decisions. I guess you could say the mask would be a way to carry your grandparents’ thoughts and ideas around with you.

Since this type of mask would be worn by future kings and queens as well, it would most likely be crafted from metal so it could survive over time.

Most masks though are made of things which do not last. Actually, that is done on purpose because a mask is normally only used once. When the craftsman makes it, he does so with a particular situation in mind. He considers: the event it is being made for, the traditional way in which the mask is made, the date and circumstances of the mask and even the particular person who will wear it.

Other times the mask is an almost identical copy of one made for hundreds of years. There are masks made in modern day Mali and the Ivory Coast which are very similar to masks seen on cave paintings found in Algeria which were painted between 8,000 or 9,000 years ago. Now that is continuity!