theatrical masks, ~ ritual masks, ~ carnival masks

Masque Le masque représente le plus souvent une partie de tête humaine ou animale terminée par des plumes ou des feuilles.

Masqué Se dit d"un animal qui a la tête couverte d"un capuchon. 1772 Se dit d"un lion qui a un masque. 1780 Se dit d"un lion qui a un masque. 1864 Se dit d"un lion qui a un masque. 1887 Se dit d"un animal qui a la tête couverte d"un capuchon.

A mask can have both unifying (masking) and identifying meanings.

In many cultures, including non-literate ones, masks express the presence of supernatural beings (spirits, demons, gods). Wearing a mask is a way of identifying with what it embodies: the wearer of the mask feels internally transformed, temporarily acquiring the qualities of the creature represented by the mask. Thus, ancient masks depicting animals served as a means of coming into contact with the spirit of the animal that was being hunted, and protection from its attack.

Later totem masks allow tribe members to identify themselves with spirits and ancestors. Mask-deity - the container or habitat of a deity or ancestor, endowed with mystical power, is considered as effective remedy protection (to scare away enemies, expel demons, disease or spirits of death) and communication with ancestors and/or gods. By wearing masks during ceremonies or ritual dances, their wearers manifested the presence of the depicted creature. In primitive cultures, such identification was complete (the animal mask had the same property as the skin in which the magician dressed himself): the one who wears the mask is the one whose mask he puts on.

Masks were often “absolutized” and regarded as independent objects of cult. The connection of masks with the world of powerful beings gives it an apotropaic meaning. The practice of using masks as a means of driving away evil spirits is widespread.

Endowed magical property, the warlike mask provides invulnerability and gives supernatural strength; She turns a mere mortal into a hero. This is confirmed by the modern military uniform, which guarantees the one who wears it a special position in society.

Masks or bags on the head are used in African, Native American and Oceanic initiation rituals marking the transition from childhood condition to an adult.

Funeral masks, which convey the appearance of the deceased, are widely used as a means of preserving the facial features of the deceased and ensuring the return of souls to their bodies - an idea that was especially preoccupied with the Egyptians and some other peoples. The destruction of the appearance of the deceased condemns the latter to eternal wanderings.

Being associated with transfiguration and transformation, it serves as a means of hiding transformation, which should be hidden from view. This intimacy helps “what-is” become “what-would-like-to-be”; in this sense, the mask is similar to a butterfly pupa.

The meaning put into the mask is expressed through its facial expressions, material or shape features (color, number of feathers, decorations, ornaments, etc.). Closely connected with the symbolism of cross-dressing (transvestism), carnival, etc.

Basic values:

• protection, concealment, secret, illusion, disguise, secrecy, shame;
• anonymity;
• duality, ambiguity;
• recognition;
• supernatural power;
• transformation;
• nothingness, the rigor of death.

The indigenous people of Africa believe that the entire surrounding space is inhabited by spirits, sometimes benevolent towards people, but more often indifferent or even aggressive. Using the right African mask could help to find contact with them or force them to fulfill what they wanted.

Types and differences of masks

By how the mask looks, what material it is made of and what colors were used in painting, the indigenous people of Africa can determine not only the region from which the mask came, but sometimes also the craftsman.

Representatives of certain tribes of the black continent are characterized by aggressive, warlike masks, for example, the Bambara tribe (state of Mali).

Zoomorphic African masks are more than common. They are famous for their variety and beauty of decoration. Most often, these masks symbolize the sacred totem animal of the tribe. Sometimes the mask is made in the form of the head of an animal whose qualities the wearer would like to attract.

Quite often, masks reflect the gender differences of the wearers: they can be clearly masculine or feminine. To emphasize the symbolism and increase the impact of the mask, it is decorated with natural hair or real teeth are inserted.

Unfortunately, photos of African masks practically do not convey their bizarre originality and extreme expression.

History of origin

The beginning of the production and use of African ritual masks can be traced back to Paleolithic times. For example, in the caves of South Africa, rock paintings have been preserved depicting a hunter in a bird costume and with a ritual mask on his face. Subsequently, each tribe developed its own traditions of making ritual masks. For example, unusual masks of the Mosi tribe are often made in the form of a vertical plate with carved patterns. And the unusual masks of the ancient tribes of the Ivory Coast are famous for their elongated oval faces and slanting slits for the eyes.

Masks were most widely produced and used by tribes leading a sedentary lifestyle. Among the ancient tribes of hunter-gatherers, who constantly wandered from place to place, the ritual of creating and worshiping masks was less common.

The magical meaning of masks

For Africans, a mask is a reflection of a specific spirit or deity, by contacting which one can receive support. The person who wears it becomes equal in strength to the creature he is addressing.

African ritual masks are very complex and diverse. Despite the apparent diversity, all masks are made according to long-established canons. Every line of the drawing, every symbol is full of deep meaning.

For example, the thick puffy cheeks of a mask are considered a symbol of fertility and abundance. And the image of an animal or bird above the human face of the mask conveys to its wearer the main characteristics of the animal. Masks are often complemented with buffalo or antelope horns, boar tusks or other attributes of the animal world.

Ritual masks are used by a shaman or tribal leader to communicate with the spirit world or during funeral rites. Neither the initiation rite of young men, nor the beginning of a hunt, nor the calling of rain can take place without them. And each ritual uses its own masks, full of symbolism.

External differences between masks

The most common are face masks. They are made with holes for the eyes and (sometimes) for the mouth. Complex ritual masks are made with a movable lower jaw.

African masks can convey a wide range of emotions: from delight and happiness to fear. But most often the faces of the masks are made to look intimidating and warlike. Such images should convey strength and aggression to their bearers.

The face mask is attached to the head using a complex system of leather straps, and it is additionally tied to the belt. This is due to the considerable weight of the mask made from whole piece wood and decorated with stones and animal horns.

Comb masks are very popular when performing ritual dances. They are lighter, but no less expressive. These masks look like a crest rising above the wearer's head, made in the shape of an animal or a person.

Large body masks-boards stand out separately. They are used during significant rituals, such as harvesting or initiation of youth into adult life. The weight of such a mask can reach 30 kg and can be carried by several people. The huge “Sirige” mask of the Dogon people is known, which reaches a height of 6 meters. Only a very strong and experienced dancer will be able to dance a ritual dance in it.

The uniqueness of the craftsmen's work

Sometimes African masks look deliberately rough and carelessly made, it seems that the master lacked skill. This is not true at all; every movement of a primitive chisel is carefully calculated and has a deep meaning.

It also happens the other way around, that is, the mask is a true work of art. The smallest details of the portrayed character are worked out very clearly and the necessary emotions are conveyed. In addition to painting, masks are often skillfully decorated with cowrie shells, feathers, and primitive beads.

Making masks is a particularly honorable craft in Africa. Often the secrets of mastery are passed down from generation to generation. At the same time, not only knowledge is passed on, but also the traditional canons of making African masks.

Symbolism of masks

Quite often, masks are used as a means of influencing people. Many masks are kept in secret, sacred places where no one can see them. On major holidays, the shaman or leader puts on a mask, complements it with ritual clothing made of palm fibers, herbs and colored feathers, and begins a complex dance. Often the masks are very scary and surreal. Of course, this makes a huge impression on inexperienced residents.

Masks are also used to intimidate disobedient people. For example, a traditional mask made in the form of a bull's head has nothing to do with hunting or agriculture. By hiding their faces under such masks, African law enforcement officers influence residents in the event of unrest or riots. The fear of them is so great that crowds often disperse at the sight of several of these masks.

African masks and their meaning are very diverse: from terrifying totem masks to special body masks that protect pregnant women.

Variety of materials

Most often, local wood species are used to make masks. To process the material, simple tools are used, often made of soft metal. To give African wooden masks the necessary smoothness, they are polished with rough leaves. Only recently have craftsmen begun to use sandpaper. Therefore, making a mask is not such a quick process.

To protect the wood of the mask from rapid destruction, it is impregnated with special oils or plant juice. Sometimes the mask blank is smoked over a fire for a long time, then it acquires a deep black color.

They are painted using natural plant dyes and pigments. To decorate the masks and make them unique, shells, beads, teeth and horns of animals, and colored feathers are used.

Traditional masks are made not only from wood. Craftsmen also use ivory, decorating it with skillful carvings. In some areas of Ghana, ritual masks were cast from bronze and gold.

DIY African mask

The fashion for African style in the interior continues to gain popularity. Usually this is a very original interior, made in natural shades and using eco-friendly materials. Stylized wooden sculptures, textile coverings on the floor and, of course, ritual African masks on the wall fit well into the design of such rooms.

Genuine masks (besides their high price and rarity) often carry a hidden mystical meaning, and they also look quite frightening. As an alternative, you can make your own African mask.

To work you will need papier-mâché (a mixture made from paper, PVA construction adhesive, and a few tablespoons of natural linseed oil), solid base, shaped like a mask, brushes, black acrylic paint, pearlescent enamel to add shine.

Based on this, we form the future face of the mask, work on the eyes and mouth, giving the face African features. It is advisable to make the expression of the mask as emotional as possible. We wait until the mass hardens, carefully grind it to an absolutely smooth surface.

For decoration you can use beads, hard pasta, colored threads, and seeds. Having created the image, we cover the mask with black acrylic paint. It may take several coats of paint to get the surface looking uniform. The final touch will be the application of enamel. Stylish unique interior decoration is ready!

mask of the Makombe people, Mozambique, 19th century

To be honest, I don't know much about African art. I had a chance to look at collections on this topic in several museums and found them interesting. I was especially impressed by the masks, they are all so different and amazing: some are beautiful, others are funny, some are scary, and some even reminded me of the faces of aliens (well, how they are traditionally portrayed in Hollywood films). I decided to fill the gap and, on occasion, bought the book “The Art of African Masks” (The Art of African Masks). Here, I’m sharing what I learned.


The art of making masks is an ancient tradition of the tribes of East and Central Africa. Until now, masks are used in various rituals and ceremonies, such as initiation into men, birth, funerals, preparation for hunting, harvesting. The mask usually depicts certain spirits, animals or heroes of local mythology. Local residents believe that masks have great power.

Yoruba masks, Nigeria, 19th century

Since masks are used for strictly defined purposes, their shape is determined by their purpose and cannot be changed at the whim of the creator. Once a mask has been created, having received the “approval” of the spirits, it must remain unchanged. The exception is special cases when the master sees a sign - the design of a new mask in a dream.
Most masks are made from wood, but metal and ivory can also be used. The finished form of the mask is further decorated with ornaments, beads, shells, feathers, plant seeds, well, in short, with any suitable available material.

Angos national mask, Nigeria, 20th century

Sometimes masks cover the entire head, like a helmet, sometimes they cover only the face, and sometimes they are worn like a headdress. Masks can range in size from small to giant. Large masks are intended for public ceremonies and rituals, while small ones serve as amulets.
We can say that as many tribes as there are in Africa, there are as many varieties of masks.

For example, one of my favorites is the mask of the Cuban people living in the Congo. The mask is made of wood, the surface is decorated with ornaments. Facial features are “drawn” with multi-colored beads. The head is decorated with shells. This mask depicts the sister of Vut, the progenitor of the Cube people.

But this mask, which reminded me of an alien, was created by the Songhei people, who also live in the Congo. Songkhei carvers are characterized by the use of geometric patterns that are cut into wood and then painted.

This one, in my opinion, is very beautiful mask, belongs to the Chokwe people, living in the territory of Congo, Angola and Zambia. This girl is the ancestor of Chokwe and is considered the ideal of female beauty in the tribe. The mask is made of wood, the eyes are covered with gold, and the ears have gold earrings. Hair is made from plant fibers.

This terrifying-looking mask was created by the We people, who live in the Ivory Coast and Liberia. This mask is called gela, which means ancient. The mask carved from wood is decorated with numerous horns, shells, fangs, natural hair and plant fibers.

This mask from Benin is very elegant. It is carved from ivory and supposedly belonged to the Benin king, who wore it on his hip. Pay attention to the ornament decorating the head and neck. These are bearded Portuguese merchants, a popular motif in Benin art. The Portuguese arrived in Benin in the 15th century and brought with them many new materials and products that contributed to the prosperity of the kingdom. In this way the Benin people expressed their gratitude to these merchants.
Currently, African masks are not only an object for ritual ceremonies, but also a collector's item for many fans of African art.

Only a man could make a mask, as well as wear it. Before starting to do it, he read a spell and made a sacrifice. The master's work took place in a secret place. No one could see how he made the mask. The unfinished work was left overnight with the leader. They said that the masters were initiated into the secrets of the afterlife.

• In Africa, this detail is still used when performing various rituals and at festive events.
• African masks made of wood are still used by magicians to this day during magical rituals.
• Many famous artists used this motif in their work and thus transferred African culture to the West.
• Today this element is used to decorate an apartment, complement the interior and can be purchased inexpensively
• This product hides many different secrets. The buyer who decides to buy it will become a custodian of ancient culture.

How Africans used wooden masks

Only a high-ranking person could wear the finished product. The wooden African mask gave him power, authority with special powers. Everyone was expected to worship and obey this citizen. Usually the product had a special coloring, it was large sizes and looked menacing.

Ordinary people could also keep this attribute at home. They needed him to establish contact with deceased relatives. They wanted to get advice from them and find out what would happen to them in the future. The mask that was used for this looked more calm compared to the mask of a noble person. It becomes a little creepy to see the masks that the sorcerers used. When people looked at them, they fell into a hypnotic state.

The products sold in the “Eastern Shop” do not have such qualities, so customers can safely buy African wooden masks in our online store. In tourist stores you cannot buy them as cheaply as in ours. Despite the fact that their cost is actually high, we try to set affordable prices for customers.

Recently, the habit of decorating home interiors with masks has become fashionable: they are brought from exotic trips or bought in stores. Considering masks as a symbol of costumed masquerades, they are not taken seriously enough. Those who choose the design of the room give preference to the so-called African original art, without thinking about the fact that masks are not just ordinary wall decoration. And many people buy something they like outwardly, considering it a protective spirit for their home, without knowing anything about its meaning.

Access to the otherworldly

The African mask, which appeared in ancient times, played an extremely important role in mystical rites, personifying the spirit of ancestors and creating a special atmosphere. A carved work of art has always been an occult object, providing access to the invisible world of the dead. Masks were used to connect life and death; they became a kind of key that opened the door to the other world.

The main meaning is protection

A magical totemic object has its own meaning and carries certain information about cultural and religious traditions. Each tribe was convinced of the existence parallel worlds, and spirits were divided into friendly and hostile. Those who wanted to harm carefully watched each of the tribe, trying to send illnesses and misfortunes. And here the African mask came to the rescue, the meaning of which for its creator was one thing - protection from dark forces through their deception. It was believed that if the spirits do not see their faces, then they cannot cause any harm, and the resident of the tribe was protected by a totem thing. However, not everyone could protect themselves from spirits in this way: masks, which became an invariable attribute of power, were worn only by initiated and noble men, which only strengthened their authority.

Variety of types of masks

African mask was different types, most often there were holes for the eyes; much less often there was a slot for the mouth. The structure was held on by laces; sometimes those participating in ritual ceremonies held it with their teeth by the internal wooden rod. There were masks that were worn on the forehead or worn like a helmet up to the shoulders; accordingly, their weight and size varied.

An African mask made of various types of wood and depicting animals used in rituals was recognized by researchers of African culture as the most ancient. Later, it was already made in strange geometric shapes, with features reminiscent of human ones. The wood was generously impregnated with oil so that the mask would not rot, and it was polished for a long time until it was shiny. Bright plant paints were applied to the surface, and for expressiveness and a terrifying effect, leather or metal objects were added and decorated with colorful feathers and beads.

Evolution: from primitive to realistic

Over time, the African mask evolved and was carved as an embodiment of the spirit that helps in various areas. The design, worn on the face, symbolized the bearer of strength, wealth, and fertility; it was used to cause rain in dry weather, and to ask for help in hunting. To enhance the expressive function and make it more like life, real teeth were even inserted and hair was glued on. They moved from simplified and rough, as if cut out, images to conveying the talented realism of nature. Masks could bear distinctive tribal characteristics in the form of tattoos, ornaments or hairstyles. And the images of the leaders were characterized by a clear portrait resemblance.

The African mask also got rid of its frozen expression; it began to reproduce a whole range of feelings - tears, laughter, irony, threat. The repulsive, evil look implied a strict prohibition on looking closely at the image. Such masks were used in sacrifices, when even a casual glance could cost the life of someone uninitiated in the ritual.

Don't rush to buy

You should not treat carved masks as evidence of the primitive culture of Africans, and you should not bring such a vivid manifestation of their creativity into your home. Bizarre images born in the hands of masters will not always bring happiness and good luck to your home. Experts recommend first finding out the meaning of masks and then making a purchasing decision.

But a DIY African mask made from papier-mâché won’t do any harm; it will become a source of pride and convey the essence of the creator himself. Stylized bright craft - original decoration any home that will not cause trouble.