Facial disguises or adornments have a rich history of use in various cultures. Like any other culture, that of Africa has its unique facial disguises. African Masks, like similar devices of other cultures, serve many ceremonial and decorative purposes.
One purposes for which Africans used these masks is to intimidate their enemies. Tribes were known to wear horrific masks with the intention of striking fear into the hearts of warriors they were going to fight. The manner in which the masks were used serves as an indicator of the tribes' understanding of psychology in war tactics. This effect was felt by many of the Europeans who first visited the continent decades ago.
In the tribes masks were worn during life as well as in death. At ceremonies designed for worship or celebration masks are worn by participants. Each mask typically serves as a symbol. Sometimes it symbolizes a deity and at other times an ancestral spirit.It is not unusual for archaeologists to find a masked face in a grave.
Very often, clay is used to make the face coverings. This is nothing new of course, as it was clay that was used for the older generation's masks. Mask makers form the desired shapes and patterns in dough like clay. Afterwards they either place the mask in the sun to or allow it to harden in an oven designed specifically for this purpose.
Sometimes the raw material used is wood. Wood is treated and carved to create the images required for the finished look. Sometimes varnish is used to create a glossy finish. Most mask makers prefer to work with softer wood types as this allows for easier manipulation. Wood masks are prominently featured as tourist souvenirs at many sites around the continent. Tourists who travel tot he great continent can literally take a piece of Africa back home with them.
People who work in entertainment, education or culture related fields often need these masks. They use them to recreate the look of tribe members of the older African civilizations. Dance pieces that reflect the traditions associated with the area also feature these face coverings as props. Owing to the fact that many people are becoming more culturally aware, especially persons of African decent, the African mask has grown in popularity. For some persons they make excellent home and office accents.
This is why commercial interests have made the mask available to buyers. Consumers are able to browse online and find the mask of their choice. They may also visit physical stores for this purpose. Either way they are able to access the mask they need. Sometimes they can access handmade products coming out of the continent itself. Mask makers on Africa make the pieces and they are then shipped to consumers around the world.
Creating a mask of this type as a do it yourself project is a great idea for educators who are teaching related concepts. Performance arts groups on a budget may also need to take this route to acquiring the items if they need them as props. Paper soaked in water, along with glue and paint can be manipulated to create the items and may be more affordable and less tedious to work with than clay or wood.
One purposes for which Africans used these masks is to intimidate their enemies. Tribes were known to wear horrific masks with the intention of striking fear into the hearts of warriors they were going to fight. The manner in which the masks were used serves as an indicator of the tribes' understanding of psychology in war tactics. This effect was felt by many of the Europeans who first visited the continent decades ago.
In the tribes masks were worn during life as well as in death. At ceremonies designed for worship or celebration masks are worn by participants. Each mask typically serves as a symbol. Sometimes it symbolizes a deity and at other times an ancestral spirit.It is not unusual for archaeologists to find a masked face in a grave.
Very often, clay is used to make the face coverings. This is nothing new of course, as it was clay that was used for the older generation's masks. Mask makers form the desired shapes and patterns in dough like clay. Afterwards they either place the mask in the sun to or allow it to harden in an oven designed specifically for this purpose.
Sometimes the raw material used is wood. Wood is treated and carved to create the images required for the finished look. Sometimes varnish is used to create a glossy finish. Most mask makers prefer to work with softer wood types as this allows for easier manipulation. Wood masks are prominently featured as tourist souvenirs at many sites around the continent. Tourists who travel tot he great continent can literally take a piece of Africa back home with them.
People who work in entertainment, education or culture related fields often need these masks. They use them to recreate the look of tribe members of the older African civilizations. Dance pieces that reflect the traditions associated with the area also feature these face coverings as props. Owing to the fact that many people are becoming more culturally aware, especially persons of African decent, the African mask has grown in popularity. For some persons they make excellent home and office accents.
This is why commercial interests have made the mask available to buyers. Consumers are able to browse online and find the mask of their choice. They may also visit physical stores for this purpose. Either way they are able to access the mask they need. Sometimes they can access handmade products coming out of the continent itself. Mask makers on Africa make the pieces and they are then shipped to consumers around the world.
Creating a mask of this type as a do it yourself project is a great idea for educators who are teaching related concepts. Performance arts groups on a budget may also need to take this route to acquiring the items if they need them as props. Paper soaked in water, along with glue and paint can be manipulated to create the items and may be more affordable and less tedious to work with than clay or wood.
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