African masks are known all over the world. In a Western culture, the masks are basically used as a part of a house decoration, although, they are of a great importance for the African culture and are considered to be a great national and a cultural value, and they deserve to be studied well.
There are no obvious facts about the origin of the masks. Some scholars believe that their history traces back to the Paleolithic era, others claim that the masks “have been used for at least 4,000 years” (csudh.edu). What proves that African masks have such an old history are the cave paintings portraying people wearing masks. These paintings represent dancing people dressed in ceremonial clothes and masks, which looks like a part of a ritual.
The masks have always been an inseparable part of the African religion and culture. They have been used in ceremonies, celebrations, rituals, and other important events. Masks are thought to have two sides: an outer form and an idea (Contemporary African Art). The form of the mask is represented by its physical essence; its main aim is to be a religious and a cultural artefact. However, African masks have a much deeper function than being just a ritual object. It is believed that the mask serves as a connector between a human being and a spiritual world. The spirits appear between a person and a mask and help a human get into a state of trance.
African people attach a crucial attention to the craft of mask making. Mask artists have a high rank in their tribe or community. Their skills and knowledge are handed down from generation to generation, from father to son (csudh.edu). These people know the techniques how to create the masks. What is more, they do not describe a facial resemblance with a person, animal, or a spirit, they tend to represent moral and spiritual characteristic of a creature. What is unique about the African masks is that they are created for particular events only, so they have a special purpose. After the rituals the masks are usually burnt.
Nowadays, African masks are in great favor. A lot of scholars study their origin and meaning for the African culture. It is a pity that a great deal of masks has been destroyed after the rituals and ceremonies. Thus, the historians cannot compare the masks of different periods and of different African tribes. What is more, a great majority of African tribes lose their cultural identity. Therefore, the masks are rarely used by the African peoples and less and less tribes use them nowadays.
Works Cited
Contemporary African Art. African Masks. n.a. Web. 6 May 2016. http://www.contemporary-african-art.com/african-masks.html
California State University. The Masks of Africa. n.a. Web. 6 May 2016. http://www.csudh.edu/bdeluca/ThePowerofMasks/hum310/2_Africa.html
