What are Maasai masks made of?

The mask is an ornament an adult warrior wears when he goes to war. It is made of ostrich feathers tied onto a wooden frame. It is first worn when a Masai boy reaches the age of twelve to fifteen, as he participates in the rituals and ceremonies that initiate him into adulthood.

What are African tribal masks called?

Senufo masks are made by professional artists that reside away from the rest of the community. These traditional African masks also combine both human and animal physical characteristics. Senufo masks are symbols of power and are used as a mode of communication between the living and the spirit world.

Why do Maasai wear masks?

In many African cultures, masks are used in rituals to honor the ancestors, but in Maasai culture the masks were historically worn in traditional ceremonies including celebrations, initiations, crop harvests, and war preparations. The masks often represented the spirits of mythological beings, animals, or spirits.

Which African tribes use masks?

There are a number of tribes in the Ivory Coast who are prolific at mask making for aesthetic as well as ritualistic purposes, most notably the Baule, Guro, Senufo, Dan and Yaure.

What do African masks Symbolise?

Tribal masks are used to represent the spirits of ancestors or to control the forces of good and evil.

What does an African mask symbolize?

Animal forms Masks are often made to resemble people, animals and other objects that people identify with. Many African masks represent animals. Some African communities believe that the animal masks can help them communicate with the spirits who live in forests or open savannah.

Why are African masks so important?

African masks provide a tangible form for invisible spirits, which are personified as human beings, animals, or fantastic composites of both. Spirits—deities, ancestors, and nature spirits (those that inhabit streams, rivers, rocks, and other natural forms)—get involved in the affairs of people, by invitation or not.