Masks and Masquerades

This week in class we got to learn about several groups of peoples the Baule, Bamana, and the Bwa. We focused heavily on their use of masks and the roles that those have in their lives. We also discussed Herbert Cole’s article “I am not Myself” which discusses African masks/masquerades. We also discussed how the masks mark and effect change.

With the all people we talked about this week, the use of masks in their lives often times marks change and is used as a teaching tool. For example the Kore Horse Masks in the Bamana are used to help teach. They point at the person that you do not want to be in a community. The Baule people use several sets of masks that help teach and help with the transitions of each stage of life. The first set would be the Kple Kple, this represents the younger male. It shows the immaturity of the younger male. The next is the Goli Glen and this represents a young male, but a male that would be going through puberty and is becoming more mature. The Kpan Pre represents the younger more graceful and calm girl. Lastly the Kpan mask represents the older beauty and wisdom of women.  The Bwa also have many masks that help mark change. One mask that we talked about would be the Dwo mask that is performed at funerals. The Dwo mask represents the cycle of life. The mask is danced and then right after it is done it is burned which ensures the renewal of life. This also reminded me of the first week of class when we talked about displaying things in museums and taking things out of context. I think that this mask should never be displayed in a museum because it not only is taking it out of context but if it would have been danced right then it should have been burned right away.

Herbert M. Cole’s article “I am not Myself” was a big part of our discussion this week. In the article he talks about how the masks carry the spirit and once you put on the mask and perform you are then embodied with the spirit of that mask. In class we discussed how there is a difference between represented and embodied. We talked about how representing is the mask, the visual thing you see while embodied is the spirit present, it is religious. We talked about with the chameleon mask and when the dancer is wearing the mask he is the chameleon. We used the example of the Eucharist with Catholics. The wine and bread becomes the body and blood of Christ it is religious and embodied.  The article says “but something essential has happened; this being is also a spirit. It’s visible face—the mask—is inanimate, with immobile features. This is and is not a human being. So transformed, the new being is saying:”I am not myself”.

Masquerades are used to teach and pass down information on how to live. They are changing and growing just like many other things. I had no idea how much masks have an impact on certain peoples. There is so much more to the markings, colors, and shapes than I had thought. I now know the importance and more importantly the meaning behind some of these masks and I look forward to learning more in class.