Guinea-Bissau Republic of Guinea Sierra Leone Mali Liberia Ivory Coast Upper Volta Ghana Nigeria Cameroon

Within each of these countries can be found ancient traditions associated with individual tribes displaying common links. The areas associated with some groups cross boundaries. The names of different tribes is too extensive to list at moment.

Equatorial Africa

Congo Zaire Zambia

Similar themes and traditions are found with masks from this area when compared with those of Western countries. In early Fifteenth Century well established Kongo people had close contact with Portuguese and later some converted to Christianity. This has had some influence on type of festivities and masks. The Kongo dominated various tribes in area of these Woyo and Yombe produced notable mask The Ndunga masks of Woyo were larger than life size and had projecting foreheads large cheeks with small eyes, surface of these faces was painted with white or brightly coloured asymmetrical designs.

The Western Pende on Kwilu River in Zaire have two major types of mask. The Minhajl, which represent ancestors and Mbuya which represent various village characters such as fool, prostitute, chief etc. These masks are used in reinforcement of social control. The amusing performances are brightened by triangular faces of masks with bulging eyes, open mouths containing carved teeth painted in a variety of colours. The more powerful Minganji masks are simpler circular forms made from raffia with tubular eyes and no other features. All masks are constructed in secret away from village.

In Makenda circumcision ceremony Mbuya appear from out of bush and dance in village square until dusk. As sky darkens, Minganji, masked dancers, materialise and move around village at a distance, helping to develop sense of awe and unease. In secret circumcision camp initiated youths are allowed to handle mask as they are now fully fledged members of society.

Many other styles are found in these areas.

East Africa

Tanzania and Mozambique are both home to Mekonde one of best know tribe of mask makers in East Africa. The Mekonde masks come in various styles, southern groups using helmet type. The features of these masks are often realistic and are worn with a cloth covering head of dancer. Scarification is used. The characters represented are familiar to local people:- old man, doctor, young woman and Arab, some animal masks are found.

Over view

It must be noted that masks of Africa represent a wealth of forms and designs which have been well collected and catalogued. The total range is by no means represented here. The common connections between masks and different groups are obviously strong.

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© Ian Bracegirdle 2004 1 Elderberry Close East Morton BD20 5WA UK 01535 692207 http://mask-and-more-masks.com You may use this article freely on condition that you include this copyright line and URL and that people who subsequently use this article follow same conditions. Thank you for accepting these conditions.

To be honest I love fool, because I feel I am one, at times. The fool embodies contradictions of world. He accepts our human frailties and simultaneously challenges them. For those of you who know symbols on tarot cards consider fool, for those of you who do not make some time to find out.

Some Examples of Fools in Masquerade Italy In Masks Art of expression Cesare Poppi describes Carnival at Moena in Italian Dolomites. Two Arlechign, a local version of Harlequin, lead masked group. They are dressed in chequered costumes, with a tall pointed cap below which is a loose veil giving them a featureless appearance. They carry horse whips. Around them crowd of cheering young boys follows their moves. Suddenly dash into youths slashing fiercely with horse whips, striking vicious blows to confused youngsters. Panic ensues. A pleasing village scene has suddenly been turned upon its head.

China In China, or your local China Town, when New Year is celebrated Lion Dance is performed. This often acrobatic masked dance is performed by, usually two dancers accompanied by two Happy Face dancers wearing their papier mache masks complete with large grins painted on them. As dance progresses through streets dragon collects lettuces and money to help bring luck in to New Year. Around dragon two fools pester crowd for money and simultaneously keep crowd, especially children, at a safe distance.

Pacific West Coast

Noohlmahl

During Kwakwaka'wakw Potlatch ceremonies in West Coast Areas of Canada another fool prowled around. He is Noohlmahl. A filthy creature with a long nose from which snot streams he is up for a laugh but should watchers mention his state, especially his nose, a violent reaction can be expected.

Iriquois False Face Society

The Iriquois False Face Society also have a fool mask to support processes of healing that they undertake. These corn husk mask are relatively simple and disposable. As with other traditions fool plays his amusing and organising role.

Playfulness has a major place in many masquerades.

In our lives we all play fool, despise fool in others and love fool who entertains. Sadly fool who entertains can also be torn apart by internal mental divisions.

The masked fool is one who maintains order and at same time questions it and sometimes on a whim destroys it. Traditionally fool treads a fine line between known and unknown, acceptable and unacceptable. Even without mask I am sure you recognise fool in your life.

The fool is a universal being. Today (15/12/04) I lost my fool, she was our cat. If you wish to know she died of old age. She had soft luxury of a purring fur to stroke and in a moment she transformed into a fanged biter. She had gourmet taste of a French chef yet licked her own arse. She refused to go outside when wind blew, because it was cold, yet sat happily on wet grass when it was raining and blowing a gale. Tango, cat, was my fool, just as I was hers when playing hide and seek. I loved her affection and was saddened by her rejection of food I gave her. All in all Tango, our family cat, was all contradiction and beautifully herself. She is a very missed little being.

Footnote

Cecil Sharp collected folk sings in British Isles. Amongst folk enthusiasts he is something of a hero as he preserved may folk songs and traditions. He was instumental in helping preserve hundreds of different Morris dances. Yet as with song lyrics he collected they were purged for naughty bits. Anything that went against his strict Victorian morality was censored. The whole of British folk tradition was made "nice".

Inspired by Masks Art of Expression ed. John Mack ISBN 0-7141-2530-X and other sources that I have read and internalised long ago.

© Ian Bracegirdle 2004 http://mask-and-more-masks.com You may use this article freely on condition that you include this copyright line and URL and that people who subsequently use this article follow same conditions. Thank you for accepting these conditions.