The following is a general over view of African Masks.

There are still places in Africa where genuine old masks can be bought DJ Moore Jersey , generally through dealers. Also watch out for fakes as they do abound. Remember buy things you like as investment can go up as well as down. If you like that carving or mask then the value is not as important.

The African masks of this area are well documented by Ladislas Segy in Masks of Black Africa. Much of the following section on African Masks is influenced by his work.

The African masking traditions of this part of the World are extremely fertile and varied. The traditions supporting the masks are generally associated with the spirits of ancestors, rites of passage, fertility and initiation ceremonies. Dance is generally involved in the use of the masks. Segy lists the following types of ritual:-

Rituals of cosmology Brian Burns Jersey , myth and mythological heroes or animals

Fertility rites

Rituals for increase

Agricultural festivals

Rituals for rites of passage

Ancestor cults

Initiations including secret societies

Related Ceremonies

Masks can be used for different ceremonies often having multiple purposes. The size and style of masks are diverse, depicting animals, human faces and more abstract styles in sizes from a few centimetres to 4.5 metres in the case of the Dogon Iminana ( mother mask ). With only a few exceptions the masks are all part of a full costume and not just an isolated piece of decoration..

Segy notes:-

Face coverings

Helmet masks

Headdresses Masks with prominent breasts

Amulets

Insignia of grade

Crowns of bead work

Materials

Wood The major material was wood due to the large forest and range of species available. The choosing of a tree from which to make a mask was not as we might do today Carolina Panthers Jersey , find one and chop it down. Rather the carver would seek the help of a diviner and undergo a purification ceremony and when the first blow was struck he would drink some of the sap in order to form a brotherhood with the tree?s spirit. Mask would be carved from one piece of wood with nothing jointed, with some of the masks this created severe technical difficulties when the early carvers only had simple tools.

Usually green timber was used as this was easier to cut. Certain vvarieties would be used for some special masks, but in general the softer woods were used

Ivory was used by the Warega and Benin. The ivory was the property of the Benin kings (Oba) and they were the only ones to wear ivory as a mark of office. The carving of the Warega was not as refined but has a strong impact.

Brass was used by the Benin Shawn Williams Jersey , Senufo and Ashanti.

Other Materials Knitted materials were used as were beadwork, basketry and fabrics.

Additional materials included :- shells, beads Tyler Boyd Jersey , twigs, bark, teeth Joe Mixon Jersey , hair, beaten or repousse metal, vegetable fibres and skin Jessie Bates III Jersey , to mention a few.

West Africa

The masks of this area are well documented by Ladislas Segy in Masks of Black Africa. His book lists the following areas:-

Guinea-Bissau

Republic of Guinea

Sierra Leone

Mali

Liberia

Ivory Coast Upper

Volta

Ghana

Nigeria Cameroon

Within each of these countries can be found ancient traditions associated with individual tribes displaying common links. The areas associated with some groups cross boundaries. The names of the different tribes is too extensive to list at the moment.

Equatorial Africa

Congo Zaire Zambia

Similar themes and traditions are found with the masks from this area when compared with those of the Western countries. In the early Fifteenth Century the well established Kongo people had close contact with the Portuguese and later some converted to Christianity. This has had some influence on the type of festivities and masks. The Kongo dominated various tribes in the area of these the Woyo and Yombe produced notable mask The Ndunga masks of the Now, adventure enthusiasts confuse to choose the best trek for their needs. In . Cheap Soccer Jerseys Cheap NBA Jerseys China Cheap College Jerseys From China Cheap Custom NHL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys From China Cheap Hockey Jerseys Cheap Football Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China