Sowo Sande Helmet Masquerade

Sowo Helmet Mask
In Mende society - Sowo is a female water deity which represents the women's secret society.

My Sowo Masquerader was designed with a white turtle mounted on headdress. The helmet Masks are used during various rites of passage ceremonies and is one of the few masquerade masks worn by women.

 Elaborate hairstyling is the most prominent feature of the mask which reflects personal beauty and social prestige among the Sande.  Masks feature intricate braids, weavings, and buns reflective of actual Mende hairstyles. Mask coiffures are further embellished with additions of symbolic motifs such birds, snakes, cooking pots, cowrie shells, amulets, charms, crests, and crowns. These adornments refer to Sande traditions, proverbs, and teachings.

2nd Sowo Sande mask completed with bird and cowries on the headdress. This one has a striped shirt and slightly different raffia covering. Each Sowo mask will have many of the same features, yet, no two are alike; in fact, they will have different names attributed to them based upon their individual function to teach, admonish, or guide in rituals for the Women's Secret Society.

Dogon Kanaga Masquerader

This Dogon Kanaga Masquerader doll was created several years as my first creation.  The Dogon will feature these masqueraders in public events; however, the mysteries of their "creation and function in rituals" is kept closely to their secret societies. Researchers have noted that one of their mysteries is linked to the dead with human skulls found in caves where the masks are kept.  In fact, the Kanaga Masks are worn at rituals called dama, whose goal is to transport the souls of deceased family members away from the village and to enhance the prestige of the deceased and his descendants by magnificent masked performances and generous displays of hospitality.


The kanaga is topped by a short pole to which two parallel blades are fixed perpendicularly. Two small flat boards are placed at their ends, upwards for the upper blade, downwards for the lower blade. The face of the mask is partly encircled by a crest of very stiff fibers, dyed either red or yellow.

When the mask is worn, the back of the dancer's head is covered with a hood of plaited fiber fringe at the bottom edge. The dancer wears a vest made of black strip-woven cloth and red broadcloth strips embroidered with white cowrie-shells

To the uninitiated, this mask evokes a bird spreading its wings. For those who have attained analogical knowledge through initiation, it is the symbol of man, axis of the world, pointing to both earth and sky.

Zoomorphic Masquerades

Zoomorphic Masquerades assume abstract portrayal of animals.  More often than not, the animal masks may have a blend of animal and human characteristics.  This elephant masquerader has more realistic animal features with beadwork, cowries and sequins as the main adornments.  Two types of raffia were used to complete the mask.

abstract zoomorphic masks could be portrayed like these

Elephant Mask using the front panel and hood for the large ears and trunk

 

or in the example of a wolf

                                                  or an even more abstract animal spirit

 

 

Bamileke "Elephant" Masquerader

For the Bamileke people, some of their most elaborate masks are used in the elephant masquerades. The elephant masks represent power and strength.  The front panel is the elephant trunk, and the two large, stiff circles hinged to either side of the head are its ears, which flap as the masker dances.

Elephant masks comprise cloth panels and hoods woven from plantain fiber over raffia. On this background multicolored beads are stitched in geometric patterns. The basic form of the elephant - a long trunk and large ears - is constructed as a hood which fits tightly over the masker's head. The two hanging panels, one behind and one in front, partially conceal the body, although some designs feature long overcoats.  While the mask symbolizes an elephant, the face has more human-like features.




Bamileke Masquerader

Here is my inspiration of the elephant masquerader

Construction of the masquerades

Indigenous people create their masquerades using materials commonly found in the environment.  Plant fibers are often cultivated and prepared to be woven in very elaborate artistic costumes.

Besides cloth, natural fibers are used in the construction of my Masquerader Creations. Some of my favorites to use are sisal fibers, raffia, corn husks (often dyed), feathers, clay, cowrie shells, yarn, recycled paper and cardboard products. Using natural earth-based and recycled items adds a high vibration to their energy.

Shown is one of my Masqueraders using a combination of fibers. some were woven and braided to add texture and depth to the design.  Creating motion is always important in styling the masqueraders, so you will seldom see the fibers trimmed too severely.

Detailed view

Front view

rear view

The Zangbeto Masquerader

The Fon people of Benin create massive raffia costumes for the Zangbeto. The Zangbeto is a wild spirit who spins and tumbles in front of an audience of terrified and delighted villagers. Many different and complex styles are created with raffia.

I had to be creatively flexible in working with this design concept to create a sense of wild movement - yet still be not too wild looking.

Shown is an actual masquerader and one of my creations of this traditional design:

Burkina Faso Masquerade

At the end of dry season many tribes of Burkina Faso (Western Africa) ask the masks to protect the villages and to call for rain. Every year when comes the rainy season, many villages in Burkina Faso rely on the masks to get good rains and the masks are entrusted to act as intermediaries able to communicate directly with the Gods and gather to perform a great ceremony.
Inspired by animal motifs, many take on the form of the antelope, hare, caiman, duck, monkey, snake, and tortoise. All the inhabitants of the savannah, together with their "spirits" perform their dance ... The masks have the power to open a breach in the present and make the village slide into another dimension, a world of transcendence.
Shown is the inspiration and the doll.

Inspiration: A wolf mask from the Burkina Faso

 

 

My doll creation of the wolf masquerade

Spirit of the Masquerade - How it all began

The Mask used by indigenous cultures is never the wood carving as we are accustomed to seeing in museums, or art collections.  In fact, I have many African and Caribbean Masks hanging on my wall which I have collected over the years, always wondering - "what do they represent and how would these masks be used." 

The artwork and styles may be very ornately carved with many symbolic images; yet, the wood mask is only one element of the Mask.

(Gelede Masks from the Yoruba Tradition)

For many cultures, "The Mask" ... is the embodiment of Spiritual energy which can be invoked for ceremonial ritual.  The Mask, when worn, allows specific spiritual energy to be channeled and manifested in this physical realm.  The whole concept of the Mask is to represent the unseen realm of spirit- it is more than a dramatic display of dance, acrobatic skill or conjuring.  It is our human desire to connect the spirit world with the physical world.

The Mask is the full regalia of costume. (These are Gelede Masqueraders)

In it's full representation, "the mask" communicates messages or specifies an energy which can be manifested for the benefit of the community.  Some of the messages can be a satirical commentary of issues which need to be resolved or a highlighting certain behaviors which are sanctioned by cultural standards.  Sometimes the Mask are used appeasing the spirit world and petitioning blessings during harvest festivals. Through dance or movement, the masqueraders dramatize the message.  They often do not talk; however, when they do, its ethereal tone has a guttural sound.

The Mask, conceals the human designee assigned to wear its costume.  In most traditions around the world, no part of the human body should be seen for many reasons: 1.) to protect the person wearing the costume from possession and 2.) to disguise the person who is wearing the costume.  In other cultures, the main costume will cover the face and most of the body.

Once the Mask is clothed on the designee, rituals and prayers are completed to invoke the spirit of the mask.  The Mask (not the designee) becomes the vessel of spirit communication; although some people would contend that both become the object of possession.

As a doll artist, I have always been fascinated with the Mask and had a wonderful vision to create Masquerade dolls inspired by many cultural traditions.  I started this endeavor October, 2014 and have since created more than 50 dolls, starting with the Yoruba culture and then gradually incorporating other cultures from the continent.  What I have pleasantly discovered, is a fascinating tradition as well as creative and artistic expression. This blog series will highlight my creations to honor The Spirit of the Masquerade.

I hope you enjoy.  I look forward to your comments.