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African Masks

In villages throughout Africa the mask is part of a masquerader’s costume. Its first purpose is to act as a temporary dwelling place for a spirit. It can cover just the face or the entire head, while the rest of the body is hidden with fringes of raffia palm fibre and long flowing robes. Here are outstanding examples, some still in use, from many places.

20-page teaching notes, with map

Specimen list of cards

AFRICA: Initiation costumes and masks

BAMBARA, MALI: Chi-wara headdress

BENA, LULUA, ZAIRE: Mask

CAMEROON: Wooden mask with cowrie eyes and raffia

DAN, COTE D'IVOIRE: Wooden face mask with beak

FANG, GABON: Initiation mask with feathers; Initiation society mask

GOURO, COTE D'IVOIRE: Face mask

IBO, NIGERIA: Maiden spirit mask; Painted wooden head mask

IGALA, NIGERIA: Wooden helmet mask

IGBO, NIGERIA: Crest for headdress for Ogbon play; Headdress for masquerade

KUBA, ZAIRE: Bwoom mask with beads and cowrie shells

KUBA, ZAIRE (cont.): Mask with beads and cowrie shells

KWELE, CONGO: Painted wooden head mask

LOANGO, CONGO: Painted mask with monkey hair

MAKONDE, TANZANIA: Wooden helmet mask with hair

MAMBILA, NIGERIA: Zoomorphic mask-headdress

MARKA, MALI: Initiation mask

MOSI, BURKINA FASO: Crest of mask

PUNU, GABON: Mask with nine-scar design

SENOUFO, COTE D'IVOIRE: Wooden mask with horns

WAGOGO, TANZANIA: Pre-circumcision mask

YAKA, ZAIRE: *Circumcision mask


This is available as a:	Unit Price	Quantity
Folder	£23.50
Wallet	£12.50
part of a Special Offer	£105.75