1. African
Masks

2. Greetings from The Gambia. How are you all? Do you recognise us?

3. We are at the Museum of African Culture and there are examples of many different types of masks from all over Africa.

4. Masks are very important in African culture
Masks are very important in African culture. Masked dances form part of many traditional ceremonies like weddings, funerals and the naming of newly born babies.

5. Masks come in many forms depending on which spirit they represent and each mask has a particular dance and music associated with it.

6. It is believed that the person wearing the mask goes into a trance and becomes a representative of that spirit on earth.

7. We are going to show you how to make your own African Mask
We are going to show you how to make your own African Mask. This is the design we are going to use.

8. These are all the things you will need to make an African Mask
These are all the things you will need to make an African Mask. A piece of cardboard, felt marker pens, scissors, some drinking straws, some old newspapers, some glue, some big and small brushes and some paints.

9. First you will need to choose a design for your mask and then draw it on to a piece of cardboard using a thick black pen.

10. You will want to mark out where you are going to cut holes and stick drinking straws and paper to raise it up.

11. When you have finished drawing the masks you need to carefully cut it out

12. What do you guys think of the mask I have drawn?

13. Next you stick drinking straws along the lines you want to raise up on the mask. Or if you want bumps you screw up little bits of paper and stick them on. To make a nose I cut out some thin card in a nose shape, folded it down the middle and stuck it on top of some screwed up bits of paper.

14. I am enjoying this very much.
Making masks is fun!

15. You need to cut holes in the eyes, ears and mouth
You need to cut holes in the eyes, ears and mouth. You may need some help with this.

16. You tear up the cardboard into pieces the size of very large postage stamps and you stick them on to your mask.

17. You need to put 2 or 3 layers of paper onto the masks
You need to put 2 or 3 layers of paper onto the masks. Make sure you let the glue dry before you put on the next layer and be careful not to cover the holes in the ears, eyes and mouth. When it is finished it will look like this. Now it’s ready to paint.

18. First, I am giving it a good coating of black paint.

19. Next, I am painting the raised up bits with red or yellow paint.

20. And here is what my finished mask looks like. Do you like it?

21. (That means see you soon in Wolof)
Well, we hope you liked learning about African masks. Next time we are going to send you about what we are doing to look after the environment by re-using and re-cycling things.
Leegi Leegi
(That means see you soon in Wolof)