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Pende Mask of the Congo: Types, Meanings, and Ceremonial Use
The Pende people of the Democratic Republic of Congo produce some of Africa’s most diverse masks. This guide covers the main types and their ritual roles.
Yohure Masks: Dangerous Spirits Worn to Steady the Living After a Death
New: the 2nd edition of Within Carved Lines: The Secret Meanings of African Masks is out now. Get the book → A people squeezed between two much larger, much more famous neighbors could easily end up as a footnote to both. The roughly 20,000 Yohure of central Côte d’Ivoire sit exactly in that geographic position,…
Igbo Masquerade Meaning: Why Mmanwu Is a Spirit, Not a Costume
The Igbo masquerade is not a costume. Learn what mmanwu means, who may see it, and why the spirit inside the cloth is never the man.
The African Mask That Sold for $4.4 Million: The True Story
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,…
Ichi Scarification of the Igbo: What the Marks on the Forehead Meant
Ichi scarification marked rank among the Igbo. Learn what the forehead lines meant, who earned them, and why the practice faded.
The History of African Masks: Origins, Meaning, and Evolution
To understand where African masks come from, you have to let go of the idea that there is a single origin story. Mask making developed independently across thousands of distinct communities over thousands of years, shaped by local belief systems, available materials, and specific social needs. What follows is not a complete history of any…