African mask
Ceremonial face covering
African masks are carved wooden face coverings used in traditional ceremonies, rituals, and dances across many African cultures.
They typically represent spirits, ancestors, or animals, and are believed to channel supernatural forces when worn by dancers.
Outside Africa, the term often refers to masks collected as art objects or decorative items: The gallery displayed a collection of African masks.
- tribalOf a clan
- tribal artIndigenous cultural artifacts
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- rite of passageTransition-marking ceremony
- coming of ageReaching adult status
secret society · carved · wooden · dark wood · ceremonial · spirit · spirit world · ancestor · face · dance · Nigeria · Yoruba · Dan · ivory · ebony · headdress · fetish · shaman
- African symbolsankh, cowrie shells, scarab, Eye of Horus, Anubis
- masksN95, kachina, ancestor spirits, respirator, false face
- wood carvingswoodcarving, carving, wood carving, wood spirit, totem poles
Africa, African, Africans, Africanization, mask, masks, masked, masking, unmasked