African Masks - Made For Rituals and Ceremonies

African masks are among the best pieces in thefemale society.
world of art and are highly sought after. They areWhen it comes to wearing the masks, in addition to
typically carved out of wood, though some are madethe way we know how to wear one, there are also
of fabric and other materials. They are occasionallyother ways. They can be worn on the head as
beautified with beads and paint.helmets covering the entire head or as a crest,
Most masks are made not to look like real faces.resting on top of the head.
They are normally designed and made to provideFor those of us who watch the Discovery
somewhat of a shock value. They tend to conveyChannel,the more common use of the African mask
different emotions such as sorrow, anger or mistrust.we see involves ritual dancing. This involves the
They play different roles to the tribes across thedancer wearing a mask and full costume. Frequently
continent. It can take a long time for a mask to bethere is singing and music in these rites and the mask
processed and completed. Once finished, it isbecomes a powerful spiritual force. During some of
preserved in a safe and sometimes sacred place, onlythese dances, because of the force certain masks
to be brought out for important social occasions andpossess, some folks are not allowed to look at them.
ceremonies.A large part of African culture involved rituals and
Masks were and still are worn during celebrationsceremonies. Nevertheless with education,
such as marriages, funerals, initiation ceremonies, anddevelopment and influences from other civilizations,
to entertain important visitors. African masks aresome cultures have lost many of their tribal beliefs,
usually worn by men, however in some culturescausing such ceremonies to be on the verge of
women also possess and perform in masks. Oneextinction in Africa.
example will be during a ritual that initiates them into