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Traditional African Masks: everything you should know (part 2)
From my book, Within Carved Lines What is the mask for? I grew up knowing what masquerade means, and now I watch the objects of that tradition sell for sums that could transform the villages they came from. The mask was made to hold a community together, to call the ancestors back, to teach the…
West African Mask Styles: A Visual Guide to Regional Differences
West Africa is home to hundreds of distinct mask traditions. This visual guide maps the key regional styles from Senegal to Nigeria and everything in between.
Yoruba Gelede Mask: Meaning, Ceremony, and Cultural Significance
The Yoruba Gelede mask is one of West Africa’s most celebrated ceremonial objects. Discover its origins, symbolism, and the UNESCO-recognised festivals it anchors.
Kumpo Dance Explained | The Hidden Intelligence and Spirituality Behind Kumpo Dance Movements
Watch on the SEVICS Africa channel: Exposing the Secrets of the Kumpo Masked Dance From my book, Within Carved Lines What is the mask for? I grew up knowing what masquerade means, and now I watch the objects of that tradition sell for sums that could transform the villages they came from. The mask was…
Temne Masks: The Spirit That Buys a Chiefdom, Then Disappears Forever
Most masks in this book appear repeatedly, at funerals, at harvests, at initiations that recur every generation. The Temne of Sierra Leone built one that does the opposite: a mask representing the guardian spirit of a ruling dynasty, seen in public only once, during the enthronement of a new chief, after which it disappears and…
How to Identify African Masks: A Region by Region Guide for Beginners
Learn how to identify African masks by region, material, and style, from Yoruba Gelede to Dogon Kanaga masks. A clear starting point for beginners.