For many years, the Africans have been very much well known for their bizarre and unique rituals wherein they believed they could evoke certain spirits and also get certain powers from these spirits. Of course one of the most important of all objects that would be used for their rituals would be the mask. African masks have always been a significant part of their culture because these objects were very much used in all ceremonies.
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.
One thing to really take note of is that each tribe had its own designated mask makers that were experts at crafting these objects. In the village, they were given very high regard because these were the people responsible for making one of the most important things for the rituals. They believed that the crafter had a special connection with the spirits which is why he could make these masks.
Now these objects are then worn by the bearer who is the one who can communicate with the spirit through the mask. The bearer is said to be the medium that would communicate with the spirits and tell the tribe what the spirit wants. He would also often perform a specific dance while wearing the mask to communicate with the spirit.
Of course the mask would most likely look exactly like the subject that it should symbolize. An example would be the evoking of an animal spirit wherein the mask is made to look like an animal much like a lion or an antelope. The reason why one would be doing this is because the medium would want to be possessed by the spirit of that animal to communicate with the bearer.
Now even the way the mask is shaped like and how it is constructed also would play a role as to what it would represent. For instance, a mask that would have a very long chin is said to symbolize power and strength while one with small eyes would represent tranquility. Now if a mask were to have horns, then it would usually symbolize prayer for a fertile harvest.
Sometimes the masks are worn in order to pay tribute to the ancestors of a certain tribe. Those that would represent the ancestors would be shaped as a human head and are often worn in death ceremonies and death anniversaries. This is to make sure that the tribe pays respects to the ancestors so that the ancestors would bless them in the future.
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.
One thing to really take note of is that each tribe had its own designated mask makers that were experts at crafting these objects. In the village, they were given very high regard because these were the people responsible for making one of the most important things for the rituals. They believed that the crafter had a special connection with the spirits which is why he could make these masks.
Now these objects are then worn by the bearer who is the one who can communicate with the spirit through the mask. The bearer is said to be the medium that would communicate with the spirits and tell the tribe what the spirit wants. He would also often perform a specific dance while wearing the mask to communicate with the spirit.
Of course the mask would most likely look exactly like the subject that it should symbolize. An example would be the evoking of an animal spirit wherein the mask is made to look like an animal much like a lion or an antelope. The reason why one would be doing this is because the medium would want to be possessed by the spirit of that animal to communicate with the bearer.
Now even the way the mask is shaped like and how it is constructed also would play a role as to what it would represent. For instance, a mask that would have a very long chin is said to symbolize power and strength while one with small eyes would represent tranquility. Now if a mask were to have horns, then it would usually symbolize prayer for a fertile harvest.
Sometimes the masks are worn in order to pay tribute to the ancestors of a certain tribe. Those that would represent the ancestors would be shaped as a human head and are often worn in death ceremonies and death anniversaries. This is to make sure that the tribe pays respects to the ancestors so that the ancestors would bless them in the future.
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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