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Many African societies have a rich tradition of masquerades, which are plays, ceremonies, or dances by masked performers. The masks used in such performances may be treasured as works of art. They are also important symbols of ancestors, spirits, or even the history and culture of whole peoples.
What are masquerades in African culture?
Masquerades are multimedia events that often include not one but several masked dancers embodying various spirits. In contrast to these large masquerades, the Chokwe and Kuba require only two or three masks to represent their ancestral spirits.
Which ethnic group is associated with masquerade?
The Night Masquerade is one of several cultural practices that are well rooted within the Yoruba people in the south-western part of Nigeria. The masquerade is believed to be an adult male member of the society.
What are Nigerian masquerades?
Mmanwu is a traditional masquerade of the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria. They are performed only by males in exclusive secret societies and involve the use of elaborate, colorful costumes that are meant to invoke ancestral spirits.
When were masquerades popular?
In the 18th century, masquerades were held to celebrate special occasions in royal families, such as weddings and coronations. They became particularly popular in Italy during the Renaissance but fell out of grace when the Venetian Republic collapsed in 1797.
What was the purpose of masked dances in Africa?
Masked dances are a part of most traditional African ceremonies related to weddings, funerals, initiation rites, and cleansing. Most of the Kenyan communities were not sexually permissive and, when fertility rituals were conducted, the participants usually disguised themselves to avoid social stigma.
What is the African masquerade dance?
Masquerade dancers are a feature of religious societies in many areas. In Mali the Tyiwara spirit masqueraders of the Bambara people carry formalized carvings of antelopes and other wild animals, dancing in imitation of their movements to promote the fertility of land and community.
How is the masquerade celebrated?
A masquerade ball (or bal masqué) is an event in which many participants attend in costume wearing a mask. Less formal “costume parties” may be a descendant of this tradition. A masquerade ball usually encompasses music and dancing. These nighttime events are used for entertainment and celebrations.
Do masquerades beat you?
Once you show fear, the masquerades will hold and scare you till you give them some money. They can go to the extent of flogging you. Be polite but firm, and let them know that you will not take any disrespect. If you feel like giving them money though, that’s also fine.
Are African masquerades real?
Masquerades play a central role in many cultures in western and central Africa. They are less common in northern, eastern, and southern Africa, although they occur among a few groups in these regions.
What is the purpose of an egungun ceremony?
In the Yoruba religion, the annual ceremonies in honor of the dead serve as a means of assuring their ancestors a place among the living. They believe the ancestors have the responsibility to compel the living to uphold the ethical standards of the past generations of their clan, town or family.
Why did people wear masks to parties?
Hiding one’s identity is the theme behind wearing masks at masquerade events. No one would reveal who they are until well after midnight. This tradition goes back to Venice, Italy; where privacy and anonymity was hard to come by and being judged by others came too easily.
What does a black mask symbolize?
Black Masquerade Masks can symbolize many personality traits including elegance, authority, dignity, sophistication, mystery, and seduction.
What is a Volto mask?
The “volto” or “larva” mask was originally always a white mask, always worn with a three cornered hat and in fact, attached to the hat. These masks are worn to great effect with elaborate costumes during the Venetian Carnival (Carnevale) and can also be worn as a masquerade mask to a masked ball or masked event.
Why are masks important in African culture?
African masks are used in rituals and ceremonies. They might serve an important role in rituals or ceremonies to ensure a good harvest, address tribal needs in time of peace or war, or convey spiritual presences in initiation rituals or burial ceremonies. Some masks represent the spirits of deceased ancestors.
What is the primary purpose of much African art?
Many African artworks were (and continue to be) created to serve a social, religious, or political function. In its original setting, an artifact may have different uses and embody a variety of meanings. These uses may change over time.
Why is the African culture important?
Africa is a vast continent with diversity of cultures. Rather than see this as an impediment to development, the continent should take advantage of this rich cultural diversity in its quest for economic development and should change the attitudes of its people towards work, interpersonal trust, time, youth and women.
What are the characteristics of masquerade?
a party, dance, or other festive gathering of persons wearing masks and other disguises, and often elegant, historical, or fantastic costumes. a costume or disguise worn at such a gathering. false outward show; façade; pretense: a hypocrite’s masquerade of virtue.
How is the African continent diverse?
Africans and those of African descent are the most genetically diverse among all racial groups. (For more info, read up on epigenetics!) There are at least 3000 ethnic groups and 2000 languages spoken in Africa. Africa is the second largest continent in the world, by land (30.3 mil km²) and population (1.22 B)Aug 7, 2017.
What countries still use traditional African masks?
The cultural beliefs and practices of masking vary from tribe to tribe, and not all tribes make masks. Masking traditions are particularly strong in parts of West Africa, especially around the Ivory Coast, in areas of equatorial Africa like the Congo, and in Tanzania and Mozambique in East Africa.
How do you describe a masquerade mask?
Looks like: It’s got a square-ish jaw, large chin, and no mouth. Covers the full face and is often either heavily gilded or stark white. Historically: Standardized Venetian disguise required at political decision-making events, thereby ensuring anonymity. For: Men who want to get lost in a crowd, and break a few rules.
Are masquerades spirits?
As far as the people are concerned, they are ancestral spirits who periodically visit their living forebears in masquerade forms. Their visits are regarded as spiritual interventions to the world of the living and as a result are highly venerated. They are a symbolic resurrection of the ancestors.
What happens if a masquerade chases you?
Being chased by a masquerade means one is avoiding a problem in real life. This type of dream can be a strong indication that there is some calling in one’s life that one is yet to fulfill. Masquerade dreams are a foundational problem and can make one not get freedom.
What are African masks made from?
African masks are considered to be one of the most admired and well-known art forms in Africa. There are many different materials used to make African masks such as: wood, bronze, brass, copper, ivory, glazed pottery, raffia and textiles. However, the most popular material used to make African masks is wood.
