What does the Dogon mask symbolize?

Dogon masks, such as this one called kanaga, are worn primarily at dama, a collective funerary rite for Dogon men. The ritual’s goal is to ensure the safe passage of the spirits of the deceased to the world of the ancestors.

Where did African tribal masks originate?

Cave paintings on rock walls from Tassili, Algeria, Fezzan, Libya, and the Bushmen of South Africa are the oldest evidence for the existence of African masks.

How do I identify an African mask?

Look for wear from forehead, cheeks, chins and noses. The mask should look like it’s been handled. 3. Smell the mask for the hint of smoke odor that may have come from a mask being used near ritual fires or stored in houses heated by wood.

What were tribal masks used for?

Tribal masks are used to represent the spirits of ancestors or to control the forces of good and evil.

What African tribes use masks?

Tribal masks

• Bwa, Mossi and Nuna of Burkina Faso.
• Dan of Liberia and Ivory Coast.
• Dogon and Bamana of Mali.
• Fang (Punu) and Kota of Gabon.
• Yorubo, Nubo, Igbo and Edo of Nigeria.
• Senufo and Grebo, Baule (Guro) and Ligbi (Koulango) of Ivory Coast.
• Temne, Gola and Sande (Sowei) of Sierra Leone.
• Bambara of Mali.

What do tribal masks mean?

the spirits of ancestors
Tribal masks are used to represent the spirits of ancestors or to control the forces of good and evil.

What African masks mean?

The meaning behind the African mask In general, the mask form is a physical mechanism to initiate transformation, whereby the wearer takes on a new entity, allowing him to have influence on the spirits to whom he is appealing to or offering thanks.

What are African tribal masks?

African tribal masks are without a doubt one of the greatest and most popular art forms in the entire African continent. Most cultures and traditions in the world have some sort of customs and rituals that involve masks, but African art takes masking to a whole new level.

What is African art of masking?

Most cultures and traditions in the world have some sort of customs and rituals that involve masks, but African art takes masking to a whole new level. Masking as an African art is not a new custom, this tradition can be traced back to thousands of years ago, long before civilization.

How tall is an African Ashi mask?

AFRICAN ASHANTI -BEAD & BRASS INLAY Hand Carved Wood tribal Mask- Made in Ghana. African Wood Tribal Mask Handcrafted In Ghana. African Tribal Wood Mask Handcrafted In Ghana. Three Faces. 17” Tall

What is an African Chokwe mask?

The traditional Angolan mask is handcrafted out of dark wood and cloth that is stretched over the forehead of the African Chokwe mask and grass hair is then braided into the mask.