Within the African culture mask were used for many different reasons. One such reason is when a child reaches adulthood; masks are worn in a celebratory fashion to commemorate the joyous occasion during the initiation process (page, 886). Also, in certain African cultures different mask had different meanings or sprits (page, 887). Stories of each “sprit’s encounter with the founding ancestors” were taught to the males of the tribe, who were transgressing from childhood into adulthood (page, 887). Upon completion of the initiation process, said males had to, recite the stories of each mask, as they were presented to them, in a public ceremony. The “Mende, Temne, Vai, and Kpelle peoples of Sierra Leone” used a ritual mask …show more content…
These figures were used by the Kongo and Songye “people of the Democratic Republic of Congo” during the nineteenth century and mid twentieth century (Page, 890). These wooden figures were intended to protect, help illnesses, and, aid in successful hunting (Page, 890). They were also used for judicial purposes. As stated in the text, the Nkisi Nkonde, were used to seek out individuals who broke a treaty (created between two persons, who could not agree upon a resolution otherwise) and seek revenge. These instruments of justice were usually ordered by a spiritual person (Diviner) or the Chief of a village. The Nkonde may stand with a certain posture which may symbolize its readiness to attack or dole out justice, like one holding a knife or spear (Page 894). The Nkonde also is attached with a Bilongo which holds medicinal ingredients, which are used to communicate with sprit forces. They are usually located on the head, around the neck, and or in the body cavity, and can also be placed in all three places depending upon the sprit force that the diviner wishes to communicate with (closer look, Page 894). To activate the power of the Nkisi Nkonde pointed objects such as nails are stuck into the wooden figure to release its power, the more nails a particular Nkisi Nkonde indicates the amount of matters that Nkisi Nkonde has
Although the !Kung San of southern Africa differ greatly from the people in the west African nation of Mali, both areas share similar problems. Both suffer from diseases, illnesses, malnutrition, and having to adapt to the ever changing and advancing cultures around them. What I found to be the most significant problem that is shared between both areas is that the people suffered from a lack of education. In the book Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa by Katherine A. Dettwyler, there is a lack of education in proper nutritional practices, taking care of children and newborns, and basic medical knowledge and practices. The Dobe Ju/’hoansi have recently started putting in schools to help children receive an education to help them have better success with the surrounding peoples and culture, but there is a lack of attendance in these schools. There are also many education issues in proper sexual practices that would help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS, in a place in the world were theses illnesses are at surprisingly high levels.
Stated on page 2 it reads “… their faces were masked, so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face…” which meant if you were beautiful then you would be a mask to be equal to the less attractive. This demonstrates that they were forced. Examples in the book stated you have to wear a metal cap radio to keep from taking unfair advantages for their brains, you have a mask to cover up their face if they are beautiful etc.
The purpose of masks in African cultures is widely misinterpreted. To understand the meaning behind the purpose of the mask you first must understand the spirit of nowo. Nowo is a guiding spirit of a Temne women's organization called Bondo which regulates female affairs and prepares young girls for initiation into the adault status and into the community. During this time they need protection, guidance, and sponsorship of spirits to make the transition. The Temme nowo masquerade uses black masks which also have a ring around the base which symbolizes transformation and the emergence to represent nowo. Along with the black mask and the ring around the base is a white scarf turd to the nowo' selaborate hairline which indicated empathy for the
No skin showing except for hands and feet. No shoes. Simple old colours, ragged robes/ clothes. Habits (cloth head pieces that act a bit like hoods that cover everything except for the face slightly like veils as we are quite poor).
Ancient Egypt is one of the most famous ancient times and an extremely strong history and Tutankhamun’s Death Mask is one of the most famous artefacts from Ancient Egypt. This artefact was discovered by Howard Carter in early November of 1922 though, was not dug up until the 26th of November 1922. To a vital extent, the discovery of Tutankhamun’s Death Mask has improved modern understanding of Ancient Egypt. The context, purpose and significance of Tutankhamun’s death Mask are vital points to understanding Ancient Egypt.
Throughout West Africa it is not uncommon to come across people that have scar stripe patterns on their cheeks. The facial stripes that they wear are not produced by paint or tattoos, like many other cultures, but only by scarification. However, in his article, Orie explains that not all of the Yoruba people have the facial stripes. Okola is a term used for describing someone whose face is scarred, it means ‘the one with facial stripes’. People that do not have the stripes are referred to as oboro, or ‘plain, not striped face’ (Orie, 2011). While there are many different patterns of stripes worn by the Yoruba people in West Africa, it is always both cheeks that are striped. Most of the time, the stripes...
middle of paper ... ... To prevent any altercation, African Americans had to wear a mask that allowed them to smile "with torn and bleeding hearts" and "mouth. myriad subtleties" (4-5). Today, everyone is entitled to equal opportunities in the US.
Venetian masks can be made of leather, porcelain or using the original glass technique. The original masks were rather simple in design, decoration, and often had a symbolic and practical function. Nowadays, most Italian masks are made with the application of and and are hand-painted using natural feathers and gems to decorate.However, this makes them rather expensive when compared to the widespread, low-quality masks produced mainly by American factories. This competition accelerates the decline of this historical craftsmanship peculiar to the city of Venice.
A mask makes one unknown, unrecognized, and mysterious. When the first mask was put on, Jack "looked no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger" (Golding page #). At the formation of Jack's tribe, all who join wear a mask from that time on and become a part of the savages. As three savages return to steal fire, they are driven because they are "demoniac figures with faces of white and red" (Golding page #) not individual boys. The mask becomes such an anonymous symbol that, towards the end of the story, Ralph "gazed at the green and black mask before him trying to remember what Jack looked like" (Golding page #). Whether stealing, fighting, or hunting, the savages found their courage because they "looked like something else" "hidden behind the mask of paint" (Golding page #).
-Open the following link to research the artist who created the work you have determined to research
In 2009, I had the privilege to read Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa by Hans Silvester. This book is a collection of photographs featuring two groups of people from the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, the Mursi and the Surma. This book made a lasting impression on me due to the incredible beauty and dignity evident in these people. I chose to concentrate on the Mursi for the purposes of this paper. The Omo Valley is in southwestern Ethiopia. The Mursi share the southwestern borderlands with six other groups; the Suri, Dizi, Me'en, Kwegu, Bodi and Nyangatom tribal peoples. These peoples are indigenous to Ethiopia and have inhabited the lowlands of the Omo Valley for several hundred years.
For example, in ancient african religions, masks are usually worn by men and rarely y women. They wore them during ritual ceremonies related to life events such as death. They can represent many things such as spirits of animals, people or ideas, ancestors, whether male or female, power and history of the religion, and provide protection from spirits. When they represent spirits, they are considered sacred for the religion. For the people of Burkina Faso, once boys and girls reach puberty, they are “kidnapped” and taken away from the community. Then, they are taught the meaning and the importance of the
Native American clothing is treated differently compared to how Western people treat their own clothing. The aim of this research paper is to show the different their clothing culture and what it means to them compared to how the western culture treats their clothes . The report will show how clothes from everyday wear, to special event clothing is treated and their meanings. It shall also show how differences of clothes between each tribe and their own specific meaning to their clothing.
Masks are used all over the world for cultural and/or religious purposes. For example the African mask is used all over Africa for religious ceremonial purposes, such as communicating with sprits and ancestors. For that reason, the African masks are considered a treasure. Along with religious ceremonies, African masks are used in rituals that celebrate birth, funerals, initiation rights and changes of seasons with people dancing while wearing the masks. The African masks were also used in masquerades, which were similar to plays.
How do we end up wearing masks? Why did we end up hiding our real identity? Peer pressure, judgment of the society; trust issues, past experiences, all of them are the factors why we ended up wearing the so called masks. Can we blame someone who is wearing it? Maybe yes, maybe no. It depends upon their reasons. What if they are just trying to wear it because they are trying to fool someone, what if they are trying to wear it because they want revenge? We have different reasons, so we’re not supposed to judge because we don’t know what we are seeing is the “real personality” of them or just a facade, but then again, it’s the society that I am talking about. Societal pressure