A F R I C A N
The wearer takes on the spirit of the mask.
In this instance, the wearer brings justice
to wrongdoers.
The Bobo people of western African are mostly
farmers of grains and yams. They settled the area
around the Ivory Coast some twelve hundred years
ago, having migrated from a more drought plagued
land.
You will find no mask among them with a god image.
For the Bobo, the Creator of all being possesses
a power that places it beyond all description
and it can have no image.
Over four thousand years ago the Bantu people
flowed out of Nigeria into the surrounding lands,
bringing with them the breakthrough technology of
agriculture. No longer would you have to spend your life
wandering the jungle and savannah in search of your prey.
You could stay put because you grew your own food.
Family groups grew into communities, villages and
then towns. Artists could do things like sculpt rock.
A politically centralized system of government
developed. Civilization arrived.
People had homes.
S I C K N E S S M A S K
Performers of the Pende people wear these masks
depicting illness to dramatize lessons on morality
and for promoting good social behavior.
The images are contorted in pain from the conflict
that rages within. It is the forces of hope and
survival doing battle with disease and witchcraft.
Q U E E N M O T H E R
In the Kingdom of Benin it was tradition to execute
the Queen Mother once her son was crowned king.
Queen Idia's two sons fought a civil war for the throne
once her husband, the King, died. The support
she gave one son made all the difference in defeating
his brother for the crown. Grateful, the King had his
mother go into hiding until he was able to abolish
the law that called for murdering Mom.
Elaborate Masks
The Yaka people of the Congo region are mostly
Christian - Roman Catholic in practice. Still,
their native spiritual heritage has a strong influence.
It is a conservative society with women working
the land during the day while the men hunt animals
using their dogs.
These masks are an art with nomadic heritage.
It was an artform originating with people
always on the go.
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OVER EASY
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