18 Sep 2019 Hand Carved African Masks

African handicraft is admired all over the world for its intricate hand carving capabilities. Whether it is masks, sculptures or jewelry, their hand carving in each of this handicraft has details, style, theme, ritual and tradition.

African mask is very interesting in its history and much diversified in its style. In fact, Africa has the highest number of mask styles, namely: Baule mask, Biombo mask, Bwa mask,  Dan mask, Goma mask, Kota mask, Kwele mask, Ligbi mask, Lulua mask, Lwallwa mask, Pende mask, Puno mask, Senufo mask, Teke mask, Woyo mask and Yohure mask, to name a few amongst several others.

African Wall Mask

African masks are made from different materials: wood, bronze, brass, copper, ivory, terracotta and glazed pottery, raffia and textiles. And the decoration materials are also various, like cowrie shells, colored beads, bone, animal skins and vegetable fiber. Amongst all types of base materials that are named above, majority of masks and sculptures are made of wood because of the abundance of tree in certain regions. Wooden masks are often colored with natural dyes and pigments created from vegetables, plants, seeds, tree bark, soil and insects.

Ghana Fang Mask

African masks take on many forms. They can be oval, circular, rectangular, elongated, heart-shaped, animal or human, or any combination of these. Bold patterns are either painted or carved. Most patterns tend to be geometrical and symmetrical and are used in a variety of ways. Basically they make geometric patterns as the base shape because shape lets them distinguish between male and female masks. Square and triangular checker board grids are often carved to decorate sections of a design. And a variety of complex braided hairstyles adorn the top of the head.

Natural Wood Maasai Mask

The tools used to make carvings, traditionally the Adze, are also endowed with their own particular spirits. When tools are passed down through different generations, they sometimes inherit the spirit and skills of their previous owners. They, like the artist, his carving and the tree from which it came, are all part of that ‘oneness’ of nature, the ecological vision that informs all African tribal culture.

African Maasai Mask

Pushpita is a freelance writer on world handicrafts and lifestyle. Pushpita holds a Masters in English literature and is a rich media professional.