Ceramic Masks
Since the earliest times masks have played an important role in the culture of Africa. Masks have varied in appearance and function. Many masks are associated with religious ceremonies, myth, dance, rituals or are concerned with spirits of the dead, rites, or even curing sickness. The mask has been used by the Africans mainly to solve major human and social problems. When a man wears a mask his identity is hidden and the expression on the mask projects a new identity. If the features on the mask are unnatural such as an abstract from an animal, it will make the mask emit a more effective and dramatic identity. Because the person is wearing a mask the human identity is hidden so the viewer is unsettled, this causes the man wearing the mask to be strange or unpredictable, this leads the viewer to become fascinated so the masked man can deceive the viewer.Masks representing harmful spirits were often used to keep a required balance of power. This type of mask was often associated with secret societies, especially in Africa, which has the greatest variety of masks on Earth.In ancient Egypt priests used masks to represent gods. Masks were also placed upon the face of mummies to keep alive the appearance of the
It was also used to encourage communal work. Masks in Cameroon are a tool of the regulatory societies that assure social control and law enforcement in the community. Masks were often used as a form of ranking in villages, for example a mighty warrior who is known to have a lot of strength would be presented with a mask that would describe this type of strength (e. Their masks are large and heavy and often worn on top of the head, rather than on the face. Masks may also be used to help identify the members of a village or tribe by having a certain colour or symbol on the masks to represent the tribe, this feature is very useful Different types of masks:· In Guinea the banda mask is used in general fertility rituals and also plays part during the dry season after the rice harvest and may also be used at funerals. According to one of the various legends, the bulging forehead and form of the mask imitate the heads of pygmies, who are the recognized owners of the land. Pende masks were originally used for circumcision ceremonies, but later became accessories for popular theatre. It is a privilege for a Kwifoyn member to be accorded the right to own a mask. · In Liberia the Koposki mask was known to be able to perform miracles and to cast spells. Different tribes using masks:In western and central Africa all animistic tribes used masks, whereas in the east and south only a few tribes did so. a wolf's mask) whereas the village's leader would have a distinct mask that no one else has, as a symbol of his power and status in the elite, e. All masks were worn by men, and can be placed in three categories. The mask depicted is a royal mask called the "bwoom", usually danced alone at important festivals.
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Acceptance Essays
