African Tribal Mask

african mask

African masks are objects connected to culture. The masks were worn often with colorful costumes in ceremonial dances which were performed for specific, often religious, always spiritual, purposes tied to the everyday life of the tribe. They were also worn for almost all important events of life, such as birth, death, coming of age, and marriage. Because of the tribe's beliefs that humans and animals and nature are all important parts of the same spirit world, they often combine animal and human forms in masks and are said to have magical powers.

African masks were created by an experienced tribal craftsman and the craft was handed down from generation to generation of craftsmen.These were made to be useable objects, not just something nice to look at! Some masks were six feet long, made of wood, and often worn on top of the head. Masks were often painted in colors including red, white, black, and blue. Wood was the most common material for African masks, but clay, ivory, metal and bone are also used. Some masks were even decorated with beads, fibers, and shells. By recreating the experience of a mask maker the student can gain knowledge of the beliefs, rituals and customs of the tribes of Africa.

• African mask are generally made to be used. This African art is usually made to be used in various ceremonies and social events such as weddings and funerals.
• Mask usually have a spiritual meaning or connection.
• The artists who create mask are given a special status.
• The mask making skill and knowledge of the spiritual meanings held by masks are passed down from father to son.
• Mask are usually designed to appear human or animal or a combination of the two.
• Mask are often decorated with such things as animal hair or straw (for hair and beards), animal horns, animal teeth, feathers, and sea shells.
• Not everyone in a tribe has the honor of wearing a mask; it is usually only a select few in the tribe. Often only men and sometimes only elders are given this honor.
• It is generally believed that the individual who wears the mask transforms into a spirit. This transformation usually takes place during some type of ritual. This can allow for communication between humans and spirits.
• African mask often represent the cultural values of the tribe. For example In Gabon large mouths and chins represent strength and authority.
• Mask are usually made out of wood. Other materials that are used include metals (especially bronze and copper), light stone, fabric, and pottery.

Types of African Masks:

• Face mask - are the most common mask type. They are used throughout Africa. They can be secured to the face in several ways. These methods include with a band or string put through holes on each side of the mask, held on by a wig, or secured by a scarf.
• Headdress masks - are actually are set on a base which sits on top of the wearers head. The Bambara (Bamana), who are the largest ethnic group in Mali, are famous for this type of mask.
• Shoulder masks - are usually large and heavy and rest on the wearer's shoulders.
• Helmet masks - fit over the wearer's entire head and are usually carved from a section of tree trunk.
• Helmet crests - Unlike the helmet masks these mask do not fit over the wearer's entire head but rather is worn like a hat, leaving the face exposed.
• Cap crests (forehead masks) - This type of mask is worn on the forehead leaving the wearer's face exposed.

questions:

• What is this object? What does it look like? What is it made out of?
• Do you see both the human and animal parts in this mask?
• What colors and design do you see? How many different designs do you find?
• Do you think that the person who made this object made it to be art or for another purpose? What purpose do you think it was made for?
• Why do you think people from other cultures use masks?
• Why do we use masks in our culture?
• What ceremonies do we have? Example: wedding

activities:

Play a CD with African music in the background.

Using brown construction paper, burlap, or a mask template, have the students design their own 'African mask'. Use crayons, colored pencils or paints in the colors used in the original masks. Have the students then cut the mask out and use string to tie. Can tie in with animal characteristics below.

Some African tribes create masks that represent animals important to their life. (See also Art Institute resource below). Each animal has a characteristic that the wearer admires, which is shown by using the symbol for that animal. A list of animals, their characteristic and symbol used to represent them on the mask is attached below. Have the kids make a mask depicting an animal with special powers they want.

Here are examples of these mask projects (For these, I brought in heavy weight paper with the eye holes already cut out. The kids could then create their mask and cut out the shape/size they wanted. I also brought in scrap construction and scrapbook paper for them to add on):

Symbols shown on the left mask include horns (speed), tusks (power/strength), eyes (all-seeing) and butterfly (beauty) and the right mask includes horns and neck fur (graceful)

Here is another set of examples from a similar mask project:

We used animal prints, feathers, and other crafts we could find to create the masks. We had the students pick a couple of features from their favorite animals to create the elements of the masks, you can see in the picture there are antlers, antennae, ears, trunks, tongues etc. I brought in African music and after the masks were made we acted out our animals and danced to the music. Students loved using their hands and especially using their masks in a "tribal ceremony"

Have each student think of a character (superhero) that gets special powers when he or she puts on a mask or costume and have them draw a picture of the character.

Talk about wearing masks at Halloween, at a fancy dress up ball, or as a bandit in the old Wild West. Bring in

examples of these types of masks for the children to pass around. Then have them draw a picture of themselves wearing their favorite kind of mask. Talk about whey they chose the mask that they did and how they feel dressed up. Do they feel like a different person or themselves?

Perform a ritual with the kids, for example their transition from crawling babies to Kindergarteners: Play upbeat African music. Let them crawl behind you in a line, then one by one get a turn to prove they can print their initials, after writing they can stand up and dance back to the rug. If there is time, they can each design a mask which they can use in the ritual.

resources:

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