Masks

The use of masks in African cultures

Masks are very important during ceremonies because they are used to entertain the people. The masks plays a major role in arousing the interest of the audience. The mask wearer can become a sort of medium that allows for a dialogue between the community and the spirits. Masks serve an important role in rituals or ceremonies with varied purposes like ensuring a good harvest, addressing tribal needs in time of peace or war, or conveying spiritual presences in initiation rituals or burial ceremonies. Some masks represent the spirits of deceased ancestors. Others symbolize totem animals, creatures important to a certain family or group. In some cultures, like the Kuba culture of Zaire, masks represent specific figures in tribal mythology, like a king or a rival to the ruler.