African Masks History

The history of African masks can be traced back to Paleolithic times. The masks have great importance in African tradition and they are made from different types of materials such as metal, wood, fabric, etc. The unique nature of African masks have earned them a place in famous art galleries the world over. These masks are therefore, highly sought after equally by art history connoisseurs and collectors.

History of African Masks
African masks have a long tradition and various meanings are associated with the different types of them. The information about history of African masks is available in bits and pieces. The world famous painter Picasso came across an African mask in the year 1907 and was amazed by the design and meaning associated with it. Africans used to wear masks in 3 different ways. Most of the masks were used just as regular face masks. Some of these masks looked like helmets i.e. they covered the face as well as the head. Few masks were used to cover just the head. In Nigeria, masks having animal-shaped headdresses were also used. Material used for making helmet-shaped masks was wood obtained from hollowed tree trunks. The tribes of Sierra Leone were known to use these masks frequently. The Body Mask and Coon Mask were used by people from Tanzania and South Africa respectively. People used to wear the Body Mask along with a matching face mask; the Body Mask, which is also known as the Belly Mask, was carved out from tree trunks. The Coon Mask can be termed as a modern mask in the history of African masks; this is because the use of this mask originated at the time when the emancipation of slaves took place in 1838. The specialty of this mask is that it is hand-painted.

Nowadays, ceremonies associated with masks are not followed with the same fervor and enthusiasm as it used to be in earlier times. The influence of various cultures, colonization, civil wars, slave trade, etc. have altered the social fabric of Africa. Even if the mask ceremonies are celebrated, it happens infrequently. The loss of tribal identity is the main reason behind popularity of mask ceremonies reducing day-by-day.

Cultural Significance of African Masks
African masks generally represent the spirit of an ancestor or deities. These masks are generally worn in ceremonies/celebrations by dancers to represent these spirits or deities. People used to wear these masks during occasions like crop harvesting, war preparations, weddings, initiations, etc.

African Masks History and Meaning
The history and meaning of African masks are presented in short in the paragraphs below.

• Punu Mask: The Punu Mask is associated with the Gabon people and is painted white. This mask represents the spirit of ancestors. The Gabon people used to wear this mask during celebrations and festivals. The use of Punu Masks in the masquerade dance was a common practice.
• Guro Mask: The native people living along the Ivory coast wore this mask. This mask represented the spirit of 'Gu'. A character from tribal mythology, 'Gu' was the wife of a supernatural entity.
• Funeral Mask: The Funeral Mask was used by the Bete and Yoruba people from Africa. The belief/purpose of the Bete people behind wearing these masks was to keep sorcerers, who would possibly cause harm, at bay. As per the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Funeral Masks were believed to embody the spirit of deceased people. It was also believed that the person wearing such masks would be able to speak to the souls of the dead.
• Ngil Mask: People of the 'Fang' tribe wore the Ngil Mask. The mask was used to initiate new members into the male secret society.

African masks are one of the most popular forms of fine arts in the world. The history of African masks should be understood in detail for understanding the rich traditions and culture of the various communities of Africa.