African Masks Shape Pattern Composition Texture Lwalwa Mask

Color in African Art Red- Life & blood Gold- Fortune Blue- Innocence Green- The earth and Africa as the mother country Black- The Unity of the people of Africa

Africa has many different cultures. All of the cultures have something in common – MASKS The mask maker is educated and respected. Training may last many years. The masks are made with strict rules – colors, materials, and shapes all have different powers and meanings. Goma Mask

Goma is a city one kilometer from the Rwandan Border Goma masks are characterized by their domed heads, elongated forms, large concave eyes that are highlighted by a change of color, protruding mouths and abstract geometric designs carved on the face and forehead. The triangular checkerboard design in this mask is typical of their surface decoration. The Goma people come from the north-west corner of Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Goma is a city one kilometer from the Rwandan Border Goma Mask

They are used as ceremonial costumes. They are symbolic – often meaning things such as celebration, war or death. They also represent inner feelings. Many tell stories about a tribe’s history. They come to life through music and dance. Senufo Mask

Senufo masks are created by specialist artists who live apart from the rest of their village. Senufo masks combine features of animals and humans in a single design. The Senufo artists have a high status in their society as their masks and sculptures are believed to have the power to help communication between the living and their dead ancestors. Senufo masks are used in the rites of the Poro society, a male organization that educates young men in the traditions and responsibilities necessary for their coming of age. The Senufo worship their ancestors, particularly Kolotyolo - the ‘Ancient Mother’ who is holds so much power that she has to be carefully approached through intervention by lesser gods. The Senufo are a farming people of over 1,000,000 that stretch across various bordering countries in West Africa including the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso and South Mali. Senufo Mask

Masks are made of bone, ivory, metal, fiber, and wood. Often they used bold, geometric shapes. They are not copies of nature, they are expressions of inner feelings. What feeling do you think the artist is portraying in this mask? Dan Mask

Dan masks have a typically high forehead, pouting mouth and pointed chin. They may also have scarification marks like the line that splits the forehead and nose in our example above. Dan masks are carved in wood and stained with a brown dye.Dan masks are sacred objects.Dan masks are used for protection and as a channel for communication with the spirit world. The Dan also carry small 'passport masks' for personal protection when they are living away from home.The Dan believe that their world is split into two domains: the human domain which is represented by the village and its people, and the spiritual domain which is represented by the forest and its spirits.When a dancer wears a Dan mask he becomes the spirit of that mask. A masked dancer will speak in the language of the spirits and his words are interpreted by a wise man. Some dancers perform masked rituals on stilts.There are many different Dan masks, each of which has a distinct use during rituals or festivals. Some masks play an important part in tribal rites while others are simply for entertainment.Dan masks are guarded by the go master, the head of the secret society of the leopard who are responsible for the initiation rites of young men into adulthood. The Dan are hunters and farmers whose territory stretches from the western side of the Ivory Coast into Liberia. Dan Mask

What masks are commonly used in America today? What masks are commonly used in America today? (Halloween, cosmetic, surgical, catcher’s etc.)   What types of ceremonies would African masks be used for? (Spiritual worship, weddings, prior/post battle, Celebrations, Funerals, etc.)

What emotion do you think the artist is trying to show by this mask design? How? Which colors, shapes or designs express the emotion?

Do you see pattern, or shape in these masks?

How does eye shape express emotion?

What emotions do the different colors represent?

What will we be doing? What type of ceremony are you creating your mask for? What colors, shapes or patterns will help portray the emotion? (What do you want to say with your mask?) Decorate your entire mask using color, shape, texture and details. Think about symmetry and design. Add embellishments such as twine, buttons or colored noodles.

Face Proportions