Tribal masks

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.

Originally posted by Nick1986 Dogon animal masks http://www.randafricanart.com/Dogon_masks.html

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

Originally posted by Nick1986 What do you make of this one Alani? 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.

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.

Kuba People of Zaire Shene Malula African Mask

Edited by TheAlaniDragonRising - 02-Jun-2013 at 05:33

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.

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.

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.

Cowrie shell mask made by the Dan tribe of Liberia

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.