Togo - West Africa - page 906

Masks
In West Africa masks were rarely produced for purely decorative purposes. Rather, they
were highly active signifiers of the spirit world and traditionally played a central role in ce-
remonies that served both to accompany important rites of passage and to entertain. There
is a staggering range of shapes and styles of masks, all of which are invariably rich in
meaning; they range from the tiny 'passport' mask of the Dan (Côte d'Ivoire) to the Dogon
imina-tiou mask (Mali), which can tower up to 10m in height.
Masks, which are usually created by professional artisans, can be made of wood, brass,
tin, leather, cloth, glass beads, natural fibres and even (in the case of the Ashanti) gold.
They come in numerous forms, including face masks, helmet masks (which cover the
whole head), headdresses (which are secured to the top of the head), the massive nimba
masks of the Baga people in Guinea (which are carried on the dancer's shoulders) and the
famous ivory hip masks from the Kingdom of Benin (present-day Nigeria), which are worn
around the waist.
African Elegance, by Ettagale Blauer, is a magnificently photographed chronicle of African art forms and their
role in modern Africa. The sections on masks and jewellery are of particular interest.
West African masks are usually classified as anthropomorphic (resembling the human
form) and zoomorphic (the representation of deities in the form of animals). Anthropo-
morphic masks are often carefully carved and very realistic. Many groups use masks rep-
resenting beautiful maidens, whose features reflect the aesthetic ideal of the people. The
zoomorphic masks mostly represent dangerous and powerful nature spirits, and can be an
abstract and terrifying combination of gaping jaws, popping eyes and massive horns. Some
masks combine human and animal features. These convey the links between humans and
animals, in particular the ability to gain and control the powers of animals and the spirits
they represent.
THE MASK COMES ALIVE
Behind almost every West African mask lies a story, often known only to members of a particular ethnic group.
When masks and costumes are worn for a dance, which is accompanied by percussive music and song, they come
alive and convey their meaning to the audience. Masked dances are used in initiation and coming-of-age ceremon-
ies; in burial rituals, when dancing and celebrations assist the spirit of the dead to forsake the earth and reside with
ancestors; in fertility rituals, which are associated with agriculture and the appeasement of spirits to ensure a suc-
cessful harvest; and in the rituals surrounding childbirth. Masks fulfil the function of entertainment, with
community-based dances and theatrical plays being created for social education and enjoyment.