The village: The place of women and things associated with them.
The wilderness which is linked with male activities of hunting and connecting with
the sprit world for the benefit of the community.
These areas of tribal life are complimentary in a special way:
Masks with animal features are the visible faces of male spirits. Masks with human
features are the visible faces of female spirits.
African religion asserts that humans can influence, manipulate the spirit world for
good of the human world. In a mask there is the power of an animal, of the spirit
of an ancestor. The well being of an entire group of people is invoked during
masked rituals.
Making the invisible visible.
Masks are used in ceremonies and rituals as part of a full body dress. The full accumulation of the power of masks is brought out in ceremonies, drama, music and dance. Many people are required to complete a masked costumes.
An entire village participates in the preparation of and staging of a ceremony.
Western societies put art into museums. African art, even when it is functional, is always connected to spiritual concerns.
Q. What artistic qualities do you see? Examine the elements, lines, curves, surface texture, form.
