Masks were some of the most significant of all objects to the Africans during the ancient times because they ancient Africans believed that they must be used in certain rituals. With a mask, it is apparently possible to evoke the powers of certain spirits that reside in nature wherein one can actually borrow their powers. So just to give people a background on African masks, here are some things that can be said about them.
According to historical records, the earliest traces of the mask usage was actually during the paleolithic era when they were still made of wood and also sometimes bronze. Now each mask symbolized spirits ranging from animal spirits to ancestor spirits and even some nature spirits. In order to further communicate with these spirits, the ancient Africans were said to have used real hair or bones from humans and animals.
Now all of the villages had their own mask maker who was an expert craftsman when it came to making these things. Now they were actually given very high status in the villages because they were said to be the ones responsible for making sure that the rituals would go well. In fact, the people actually believed that the maker had a special affinity with the spirits which is why he could make the masks.
Of course these objects were worn by someone known as a bearer who is said to have the powers to communicate with the spirits. The bearer is actually a medium who has special powers that can help with tap into the spiritual plane through rituals. It is because of this that they were given the masks.
Of course the mask would most likely look exactly like the subject that it should symbolize. An example would be the evoking of an animal spirit wherein the mask is made to look like an animal much like a lion or an antelope. The reason why one would be doing this is because the medium would want to be possessed by the spirit of that animal to communicate with the bearer.
Now what makes the mask interesting is that the way it is constructed would represent something. For example, a mask that has a long chin would represent strength while those that would have small eyes and a small mouth would mean calmness. Also, those that would have antelope horns would symbolize fertile crops and are often worn during harvest ceremonies.
Now often times, there would be rituals that would honor the ancestors of the tribe. Now when this would happen, the bearer would often wear a mask that would look human as to represent the ancestors. This is often used during a death anniversary or even during a funeral.
Now one can really observe how important these objects are in the culture of the Africans. This is the object that would bind the spirit plane with the human world. With this object, it is possible for one to communicate with various spirits.
According to historical records, the earliest traces of the mask usage was actually during the paleolithic era when they were still made of wood and also sometimes bronze. Now each mask symbolized spirits ranging from animal spirits to ancestor spirits and even some nature spirits. In order to further communicate with these spirits, the ancient Africans were said to have used real hair or bones from humans and animals.
Now all of the villages had their own mask maker who was an expert craftsman when it came to making these things. Now they were actually given very high status in the villages because they were said to be the ones responsible for making sure that the rituals would go well. In fact, the people actually believed that the maker had a special affinity with the spirits which is why he could make the masks.
Of course these objects were worn by someone known as a bearer who is said to have the powers to communicate with the spirits. The bearer is actually a medium who has special powers that can help with tap into the spiritual plane through rituals. It is because of this that they were given the masks.
Of course the mask would most likely look exactly like the subject that it should symbolize. An example would be the evoking of an animal spirit wherein the mask is made to look like an animal much like a lion or an antelope. The reason why one would be doing this is because the medium would want to be possessed by the spirit of that animal to communicate with the bearer.
Now what makes the mask interesting is that the way it is constructed would represent something. For example, a mask that has a long chin would represent strength while those that would have small eyes and a small mouth would mean calmness. Also, those that would have antelope horns would symbolize fertile crops and are often worn during harvest ceremonies.
Now often times, there would be rituals that would honor the ancestors of the tribe. Now when this would happen, the bearer would often wear a mask that would look human as to represent the ancestors. This is often used during a death anniversary or even during a funeral.
Now one can really observe how important these objects are in the culture of the Africans. This is the object that would bind the spirit plane with the human world. With this object, it is possible for one to communicate with various spirits.
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