In Africa and some parts of North America, spiritual or political ceremonies are common, and often include costumes, masks, dancing and masquerade. It is said that often the wearer of a mask enters a spiritual realm and is completely transformed, perhaps behaving differently, moving differently or speaking differently. Some masquerades are purely for entertainment or performed to highlight the cultural identity of a community or nation. Others can be religious, socially or politically charged and very symbolic and important to the people involved.
Here is a small gallery of particularly interesting images of masks and costumes and their underlying symbolism.
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| Benin This masquerade appears at a yearly festival that honours women. It is known as 'You Can't Buy Wisdom at the Market', making a religious and political point that enlightenment is never for sale. |
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| Nigeria In Roman religion and mythology, 'Janus' is the two-faced god of beginnings and transitions, and uses both of his faces to look to the future and the past. Janus masks like this one often appear at funerals and ceremonies honouring Nigerian kings and chiefs, amongst other rituals. The feathers are said to be a symbol of power. |
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| Haiti This masked youth wields the tools of modern revolution; a gun and a phone. He is wrapped in a rope symbolising the suffering of slaves. |
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| Sierra Leone On festival days, people parade in the streets led by an ancestral 'devil'. This water buffalo spirit is the figurehead for a men's social group. |
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| Haiti Three young boys become 'Pa Wowo' - painted peasants who personify poverty. |
All images are credited to Phyllis Galembo, a photographer and fine arts professor. Galembo has travelled all over Africa and the African diaspora and captured over 100 different images masks of which she has published in her book 'Maske' which is available to buy: Maske by Phyllis Galembo
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
