Monday, November 15, 2010

African Masks!

-Most of the time African masks will be dramatic portraits of spirits, ancestors, or invisible powers.
-They are worn for ceremonial events like social, religious, or moral values of the community.
-The materials they used were usually leather, metal, fabrics, and wood.
-They would have these ceremonies for celebrations, crop harvesting, war preparation etc.
-They would usually wear the masks three different ways...
1)Vertical: covering the entire face
2)Helmet: covering entire head
3)Crest: resting on the head
-During ceremonies the dancer will go into a deep trance, during this time they will "communicate with ancestors.  Sometimes there will be a translator or wise man with the dancer to translate what the dancer is hearing for the ancestors.dsp_popup_largepic.cfm.jpg