African History: Tribal masks

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Tribal masks

Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Regional History or Period History
Forum Name: African History
Forum Discription: Talk about African History
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31703
Printed Date: 25-Apr-2024 at 00:56
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Tribal masks

Posted By: Nick1986
Subject: Tribal masks
Date Posted: 09-May-2012 at 19:19

African witchdoctors, chiefs and warriors wore elaborate masks for rituals representing gods, demons or deceased ancestors. This one comes from Ghana and seems to represent the ancient Horned God so widespread in the prechristian world

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Replies:

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 10-May-2012 at 19:27

Could this Zulu mask be a representation of the white devils with their moustaches, sideburns and pith helmets?

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 11-May-2012 at 19:20

This African mask looks like a skull. Perhaps it's the god of death?

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 12-May-2012 at 20:51

Bronze Nigerian leopard mask

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 14-May-2012 at 19:31

Another Nigerian mask

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 15-May-2012 at 19:50

The Egyptians were the first African culture to use masks. This is Anubis, god of the dead

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 20-May-2012 at 19:50

Ebony mask from the Congo decorated with shells. These cowries are still used as money in pre-industrialised societies

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 22-May-2012 at 19:47

Traditional west Kenyan mask with glass beads

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: okamido
Date Posted: 23-May-2012 at 14:22

Lemme see if I can get a pic of my Nigerian mask on here.

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Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 23-May-2012 at 19:14

Cool. Do you know how old it is Okamido?

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 01-Jun-2012 at 19:09

The art of the African mask
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HbKqCGdZ7R8C&lpg=PP1&dq=african%20mask&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false%20 - http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HbKqCGdZ7R8C&lpg=PP1&dq=african%20mask&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 05-Jun-2012 at 06:12

This is an example of a Guere Mask, typical of Liberia and the Ivory Coast. They are sometimes designated as war masks, but tended to be used for funerals and interrogating those people suspected of being guilty of some crime.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 05-Jun-2012 at 19:11

Originally posted by TheAlaniDragonRising

This is an example of a Guere Mask, typical of Liberia and the Ivory Coast. They are sometimes designated as war masks, but tended to be used for funerals and interrogating those people suspected of being guilty of some crime.

Looks intimidating. The expression reminds me of a hanging judge about to pronounce sentence

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 06-Jun-2012 at 00:42

Originally posted by Nick1986

Looks intimidating. The expression reminds me of a hanging judge about to pronounce sentence

I agree, Nick, and I think that might have been the point. Smile

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 06-Jun-2012 at 00:53

This is a mba mask, which is a Afikpo mask. The Afikpo are a small subgroup of the Igbo people of Nigeria. The purpose of this mask is to be used while entertaining. This one is about nineteen inches high.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 06-Jun-2012 at 19:24

What do you make of this one Alani?

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 06-Jun-2012 at 20:27

Originally posted by Nick1986

What do you make of this one Alani?

It looks a little like a kakuugu mask, a suku mask from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I say that because of the protruding cheeks. However I can't be too sure as I think they tend to have protruding chins too, and this example doesn't seem to have one. If so then I think the mask represents a dead chief, or something like that.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 07-Jun-2012 at 19:38

I'm impressed by your knowledge Alani. Smile

How did you get interested in African culture?

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 07-Jun-2012 at 23:57

Originally posted by Nick1986

I'm impressed by your knowledge Alani. Smile

How did you get interested in African culture?

Oh in such knowledge, Nick, I'm but a beginner, and in hope of expanding what I know. My interest, well a good part of it any way, has come about from bits and pieces of knowledge picked up on these history sites, and the realization that mainstream history misses such things out. Btw Nick, my knowledge is enhanced greatly by search engines, and it would be dishonest of me to try and pass everything off as stored knowledge in my own head. Smile

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 08-Jun-2012 at 00:19

This mask comes from the Yaka people who come from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola areas. This type of mask would be a one off and would have probably only been used the once, in association with a circumcision ceremonial process.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 08-Jun-2012 at 21:03

Another Angolan mask with feathers

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 09-Jun-2012 at 09:32

Originally posted by Nick1986

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Another Angolan mask with feathers

That's a really nice mask, Nick, and here's another Chokwe Chihongo mask which isn't to bad either.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 09-Jun-2012 at 19:57

The feathers remind me of an Indian chief's war bonnet, or the crest on a Roman centurion's helmet

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 09-Jun-2012 at 20:38

Originally posted by Nick1986

The feathers remind me of an Indian chief's war bonnet, or the crest on a Roman centurion's helmet

They may well be representations of chiefs, Nick, although dead chiefs. Note the eyes.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 19:31

Yes, they're closed (as if in death)

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 21:42

Originally posted by Nick1986

Yes, they're closed (as if in death)

It would seem that in many of the cases the ancestors were to be either feared or revered, or maybe both.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 11-Jun-2012 at 04:23

This is a Bo nun amuin mask, belonging to the Baule, one of the Akan people who moved to the Ivory Coast about two hundred years ago. The design of the mask reflects the influence on the Baule from those people they come into contact with, such as the Guro, Senufo, and Yaure peoples. These masks belonged to the bushcow/antelope men. They were seen to be sacred and fearsome, and hidden away from women and children. A notable feature of this particular mask is the moveable lower jaw.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 12-Jun-2012 at 19:06

Alani, could the black Ivory Coast mask you posted also be connected to the cult of the Horned God worshipped throughout Celtic Europe and the Middle East? Perhaps the Africans engaged in cultural exchanges with a trading and seafaring race like the Carthaginians (who, coincidentally, worshipped the horned deities Molech and Baal)?

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 12-Jun-2012 at 19:55

Originally posted by Nick1986

Alani, could the black Ivory Coast mask you posted also be connected to the cult of the Horned God worshipped throughout Celtic Europe and the Middle East? Perhaps the Africans engaged in cultural exchanges with a trading and seafaring race like the Carthaginians (who, coincidentally, worshipped the horned deities Molech and Baal)?

Before moving to the region they are in presently they were from an area known as Sahel. Potentially I guess this might have allowed for contact with those trading in the middle east, such as the Carthaginians.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 13-Jun-2012 at 06:18

This is an example of a Luba Kifwebe mask from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They represent spirits, and would have been coupled up at ceremonies, male and female. The masks would have been worn with a raffia costume. These masks were used in ceremonies to mark important periods of social transition and transformation. For example at the death of prominent people, such as a chief.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 13-Jun-2012 at 19:50

What do you make of this one Alani?

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 14-Jun-2012 at 18:27

Originally posted by Nick1986

What do you make of this one Alani?

This is just a guess mind you, Nick, so chances are you're going to have to reveal the answer. My guess is that it is something like a Chokwe Pwo mask, from around the Angola region.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 14-Jun-2012 at 18:28

Deleted due to duplication.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 15-Jun-2012 at 19:18

Alani, i don't know myself. I found the image on photobucket and was curious about its origins

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 16-Jun-2012 at 03:50

Originally posted by Nick1986

Alani, i don't know myself. I found the image on photobucket and was curious about its origins

I've taken a little look on photobucket and left a post for the person who posted it, asking if they have any knowledge as to its origins. Smile

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 16-Jun-2012 at 04:26

This one is from Nigeria, and is an Ibo crest mask.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: okamido
Date Posted: 16-Jun-2012 at 17:21

Originally posted by Nick1986

Cool. Do you know how old it is Okamido?

Unfortunately, I don't. My friend, Bisi, gave it to me when I left the company we worked together at. Because there was a party, she didn't go into a lot of detail over it. All I know is that she brought it with her in the 90s when she immigrated from Nigeria. She is Yoruba, so I would just guess that it is from the same tribal culture. Maybe someone will recognize some features on it, and can tell us more.

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Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 16-Jun-2012 at 20:20

Neat mask Okamido. Smile

Are those glass beads on the brow?

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 19-Jun-2012 at 19:39

Alani, what are your thoughts on Okamido's mask? Judging by the happy expression on its face, i guess it would be used for ceremonies of renewal: births, marriages, initiations, or reunions

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 19-Jun-2012 at 22:49

Originally posted by Nick1986

Alani, what are your thoughts on Okamido's mask? Judging by the happy expression on its face, i guess it would be used for ceremonies of renewal: births, marriages, initiations, or reunions

Well I might be wrong here, as this was thought to of been from the Yoruba. My feeling was that it had been something like a Punu mask, and made for a marriage ceremony, by the man, or at least a man, as an idealised representation of Punu women. If it had been then the woman had been from a wealthy family, as the hair style on the mask is not flattened, which it would have been had the woman been working in a traditional fashion, carrying on the head. A very nice piece in my opinion, and better than most, which should say a great deal.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 20-Jun-2012 at 19:38

You're right, it does have a feminine look to it. I was close when i suggested it celebrated marriage or motherhood Smile

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 22-Jun-2012 at 16:36

This is a Yaure Mask from the Ivory Coast, and an emblem of the Yu spirit, something considered to be dangerous, so to be handled with care. Supposedly these masks are not to be viewed by women, as is thought to reduce their level of fertility. The masks are thought to bring about equilibrium of the community, and are warn on occasion of a death. The horns of the ram are funeral symbols, and the bird, domesticated birds, are symbols of appeasement to the gods or spirits.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 22-Jun-2012 at 19:13

Kenyan dancer's mask made from a turtle shell

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 22-Jun-2012 at 20:06

Originally posted by Nick1986

Kenyan dancer's mask made from a turtle shell

Nice mask, Nick. A similar pattern to the Lega tribe masks from the Zaire/DRC region.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 23-Jun-2012 at 19:04

Thanks Alani. Smile

Let me see if i can find images of similar masks

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 28-Jun-2012 at 19:24

Cowrie shell mask made by the Dan tribe of Liberia

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 04-Jul-2012 at 20:06

This Sudanese mask looks like a chameleon

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 03-Aug-2012 at 00:33

Originally posted by Nick1986

Cowrie shell mask made by the Dan tribe of Liberia

Nice mask, Nick, and such masks would have been used to communicate with the spirit world.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 03-Aug-2012 at 19:18

Is that the reason for the wide eyes and opened mouth? The mask looks frightened (presumably by what the wearer came into contact with on the other side)

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 03-Aug-2012 at 20:13

Originally posted by Nick1986

Is that the reason for the wide eyes and opened mouth? The mask looks frightened (presumably by what the wearer came into contact with on the other side)

I think, like some masks elsewhere, as they are to communicate with the spirits their appearance is of the dead. The one above I think represents a man rather than a woman, for those tend to have slit like eyes.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 04-Aug-2012 at 19:09

Thanks Alani. I've noticed a few similarities between African spirit-worship and the Caribbean voodoo cult, especially "corpse paint" and specially adapted costumes in the absence of proper masks

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 05-Aug-2012 at 00:50

Originally posted by Nick1986

Thanks Alani. I've noticed a few similarities between African spirit-worship and the Caribbean voodoo cult, especially "corpse paint" and specially adapted costumes in the absence of proper masks

As it happens, Nick, the Dan are from the Ivory coast in West Africa, not too far from Benin where the Fon language comes from, and that is where the term 'vodu' which becomes 'voodoo' originates from.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 30-May-2013 at 17:27

Zulu tribe ritual mask

http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/The_Alani_Dragon_Rising/media/Zulutriberitualmask_zps29e7c590.jpg.html">

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 02-Jun-2013 at 05:32

Kuba People of Zaire Shene Malula African Mask

http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/The_Alani_Dragon_Rising/media/KubaPeopleofZaireSheneMalulaAfricanMask_zps6b4df2f9.jpg.html">

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 06-Jun-2013 at 15:17

Originally posted by TheAlaniDragonRising

Zulu tribe ritual mask

http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/The_Alani_Dragon_Rising/media/Zulutriberitualmask_zps29e7c590.jpg.html">

This mask looks like it's terrified, or in pain. Was it used for the circumcision ritual?

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 11-Jun-2013 at 22:46

Originally posted by Nick1986

This mask looks like it's terrified, or in pain. Was it used for the circumcision ritual?

It's a Zulu secret mask. You tell the mask a secret you don't want to share with anyone else. Zulus aren't known for wearing masks at ceremonies.

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 15-Jun-2013 at 20:24

What do you make of this one Alani?
http://www.mariposamuseum.org/african_artifacts/147KEWDben/maraposa-africa-mask.html - http://www.mariposamuseum.org/african_artifacts/147KEWDben/maraposa-africa-mask.html

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 16-Jun-2013 at 00:19

Originally posted by Nick1986

What do you make of this one Alani?
http://www.mariposamuseum.org/african_artifacts/147KEWDben/maraposa-africa-mask.html - http://www.mariposamuseum.org/african_artifacts/147KEWDben/maraposa-africa-mask.html

I love these masks with a little providence. What I can gather is that it belonged to the King of Moero's village, in the Congo. Something, I think, to do with their tribe, the Lamba tribe, gaining a victory over a rival tribe, the Bemba tribe. A victory token then I guess. Very interesting indeed, Nick. Smile

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 24-Jun-2013 at 18:22

Dogon animal masks
http://www.randafricanart.com/Dogon_masks.html - http://www.randafricanart.com/Dogon_masks.html

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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 15-Jul-2013 at 09:35

Originally posted by Nick1986

Dogon animal masks
http://www.randafricanart.com/Dogon_masks.html - http://www.randafricanart.com/Dogon_masks.html

Thought you might be interested in this, as there's Dogon masks.

[TUBE]aBmPota4tpU&related[/TUBE]

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Date Posted: 31-Aug-2013 at 04:58

Luchazi Katotola Mask

http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/The_Alani_Dragon_Rising/media/LuchaziKatotolaMask_zpsc17e52cc.jpg.html">

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What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Posted By: Benjamin Park
Date Posted: 09-Oct-2013 at 03:20

It’s the Punu Tribal African mask.

People in Punu wear this mask with a belief that the mask will help them to get rid of the evil forces and witches. They also represent the wealth of a person indicating that they do not have to work for living.

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http://www.nyamiafricanmasks.com/ - http://www.nyamiafricanmasks.com/ provides information about different African masks