African Mask Making | History, Meaning and Secrets of Traditional African Mask Exposed

An African mask was never meant to exist everywhere. In traditional African societies, masks were carefully placed, moved, and stored according to clear cultural rules. These rules were not arbitrary. They reflected deep understandings of space, function, timing, and social order. This article explains where African masks were traditionally kept, why those locations mattered, and…

New: the 2nd edition of Within Carved Lines: The Secret Meanings of African Masks is out now. Get the book →   An old French couple were clearing out an attic. They found a mask nobody in the family had thought twice about in years. They sold it for €150. About $158. Two years later,…