Masks were some of the most significant of all objects to the Africans during the ancient times because they ancient Africans believed that they must be used in certain rituals. With a mask, it is apparently possible to evoke the powers of certain spirits that reside in nature wherein one can actually borrow their powers. So just to give people a background on African masks, here are some things that can be said about them.
Now just to give people a background, basically the earliest record of African mask use was of course in the paleolithic era wherein these were made out wood or metal. Now each of these were made to symbolize a certain entity like an animal, an ancestor, or some other kind of spirit. Sometimes even hair, teeth, or even bones were used in the creation of a ritual mask.
Now all of the villages had their own mask maker who was an expert craftsman when it came to making these things. Now they were actually given very high status in the villages because they were said to be the ones responsible for making sure that the rituals would go well. In fact, the people actually believed that the maker had a special affinity with the spirits which is why he could make the masks.
Of course these objects were worn by someone known as a bearer who is said to have the powers to communicate with the spirits. The bearer is actually a medium who has special powers that can help with tap into the spiritual plane through rituals. It is because of this that they were given the masks.
Now these objects would actually look like the subject that it would represent. For example, if the mask is meant to represent an animal spirit, then it is usually made in the shape of an animal like a buffalo, a bird, or even a lion. The idea here is for the bearer to become the animal that he is portraying because he has been possessed by the spirit of the animal.
Of course another very interesting fact about the mask is that its shape would also represent something. Now for instance, the mask that has a really long chin would symbolize strength while the one with a small mouth would represent calmness. Now if a mask would have horns, this would actually symbolize the crops being fertile during the harvest season.
Now often times, there would be rituals that would honor the ancestors of the tribe. Now when this would happen, the bearer would often wear a mask that would look human as to represent the ancestors. This is often used during a death anniversary or even during a funeral.
Now if one would observe, he can see how important the mask is to the African ceremonies. For the ancient Africans, the mask was the object that could finally be the bridge between this world and the spiritual world. With a mask, it was possible to reach out to certain spirits.
Now just to give people a background, basically the earliest record of African mask use was of course in the paleolithic era wherein these were made out wood or metal. Now each of these were made to symbolize a certain entity like an animal, an ancestor, or some other kind of spirit. Sometimes even hair, teeth, or even bones were used in the creation of a ritual mask.
Now all of the villages had their own mask maker who was an expert craftsman when it came to making these things. Now they were actually given very high status in the villages because they were said to be the ones responsible for making sure that the rituals would go well. In fact, the people actually believed that the maker had a special affinity with the spirits which is why he could make the masks.
Of course these objects were worn by someone known as a bearer who is said to have the powers to communicate with the spirits. The bearer is actually a medium who has special powers that can help with tap into the spiritual plane through rituals. It is because of this that they were given the masks.
Now these objects would actually look like the subject that it would represent. For example, if the mask is meant to represent an animal spirit, then it is usually made in the shape of an animal like a buffalo, a bird, or even a lion. The idea here is for the bearer to become the animal that he is portraying because he has been possessed by the spirit of the animal.
Of course another very interesting fact about the mask is that its shape would also represent something. Now for instance, the mask that has a really long chin would symbolize strength while the one with a small mouth would represent calmness. Now if a mask would have horns, this would actually symbolize the crops being fertile during the harvest season.
Now often times, there would be rituals that would honor the ancestors of the tribe. Now when this would happen, the bearer would often wear a mask that would look human as to represent the ancestors. This is often used during a death anniversary or even during a funeral.
Now if one would observe, he can see how important the mask is to the African ceremonies. For the ancient Africans, the mask was the object that could finally be the bridge between this world and the spiritual world. With a mask, it was possible to reach out to certain spirits.
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