African masks and headdresses are worn by both men and women depending on the occasion they are being used for. Masks may be worn separately from headdresses or in combination. Elaborate facial decorations are also used by many cultures in Africa such as tattooing, scarification, body painting, insertion of ear plugs and lip plates, elaborate hairstyles and accentuating certain facial features such as elongating the neck. DID YOU KNOW??? The history of Africa is rich with adventure, trials, and success. From the ancient civilizations of Great Zimbabwe, the Kingdoms of Kush and Axum to the various tribes located over the continent, Africa has untold natural resources and a unique history. Masks and headdresses are made from readily obtainable materials such as wood, metal, glass beads, cowrie shells, coins, amulets, and rosaries. The important events of various African cultures are marked by celebrations. Art provides a means to express the purpose of the event. Masks and headdresses are often worn at these times to provide a visual means of showing these changes. Among the most important celebrations is when a young person leaves childhood and is initiated into adulthood. These ceremonies are frequently marked by special masks and headdresses. 2
The materials you use to embellish your African mask and headdress should incorporate the colors, motifs and elements found in the region. The following are a few items to consider: Consider this... African mask makers used what they found to create their masks - stone, wood, grasses, animal skins and more were used to embellish their masks. Consider creating a mask using only what you have available. What materials would you use? COLORS Earth Tone Colors: Yellow Ochre Tan Black White Rust red Olive green Burnt umber PAPER TEXTURES Exotic papers Crinkled paper Suede Metallic Rough Smooth Bark Handmade EMBELLISHMENTS Stone, wood, & metal buttons Feathers Shells Faux animal prints Faux animal fur Raffia, twine, cording Shells Small stones Beads Amulets Rosaries Punched out shapes NATURAL ELEMENTS Wood Metal Cowrie shells Animal claws, teeth, hair & hide Plant fibers Horse hair 3
GENERAL EMBELLISHING IDEAS Consider doing one or more of the following to embellish your mask pieces: 1. Paint the surface of the mask with black paint and allow to dry. Sponge on gold, forest green, and rust red to antique the surface of the pattern pieces. 2. Use textured wallpaper, exotic handmade papers, and textured or print fabric to cover selected pattern pieces. Use dimensional paint, gold or silver buttons, ornate cording and braids to decorate the surface further. 3. Arrange the facial features off-center to make the mask have a unique expression. 4. Use fake fur, doll s hair, moss, raffia, twine, cording, twisted florist wire, etc. to make mustaches, beards, and hair. Glue to a pattern shape and place where desired. 5. Sponge on several flesh tone colors to add visual interest to your mask pattern pieces. 6. Use buttons, shells, beads, bits of glass or tile, etc. to make mosaic masks. 7. Make interesting details from ovenbaked clay. 8. Use different types of dimensional paint to add interesting color, texture & pattern. 4
AFRICA IN FOCUS MAKE BWA PLANK MASK by Jean Henrich c2013 Henrich Inc. MATERIALS: *Thin cardboard *Small paper plate *Acrylic paint - yellow ochre, cream, burnt umber, black *Paintbrush *Tacky Glue *Scissors *Instant coffee *X-Acto knife (ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED) *Empty film canister *Yard stick or other length of flat wood *Craft foam *Sea sponge *All purpose paint sealer A Brief Overview of Bwa (Bobo) Plank Masks & Headdress Bwa headdresses can be very tall - upwards of 60+ inches. The Bwa use their masks in ceremonial dances. The mask allows the dancer to turn into a supernatural being. The masks are used to help promote a good harvest and at burials. The geometric designs are symbolic. The checkerboard design symbolizes the separation of good and evil, light and dark, and male and female. The Bwa also wear circular sun masks. These are worn during the farming season. These masks are suppose to insure enough rain and sun to promote a good harvest. There are approximately 130,000 Bwa residing in Central Burkina Faso, Mali. They are an agricultural society that grow crops such as millet, yams, maize and sorghum. Cotton and peanuts are their main cash crops. The Bwa are led by a council of elders. Many of their ceremonies are based on their need to reconcile with nature. Located in the dry savannas, rain is an essential part of their survival. Their masks and headdresses are made of wood, fiber and leaves. The masks are considered sacred since the wearer is suppose to become the spirit they represent. 5
DIRECTIONS 1. Select one of the Bwa plank mask design on pages 11-13. Mask Element 3 Mask Element 1 2. Make a copy and then cut out each of the Mask Elements 1, 2, and 3 found on pages 9-10. 3. Use a small, sturdy paper plate as the circular face base and a large sheet of thin cardboard for the mask elements 1-3 as illustrated on the right side of this page. (We used an old next day air postage box for the headdress sections). 4. Cut a length of cardboard for the frame that will go the length of the mask. Mask Element 2 Small Paper Plate Length of cardboard 6
2. MAKE THE CRAFT FOAM SHAPES. *Cut out the different shapes that cover the face and headdress from a sheet of craft foam. Glue these in place based on the Bwa plank mask you have selected. Don t worry if the shapes are not perfect. This will give the finished mask/headdress a rustic appearance. 3. PREPARE THE ROUND CENTER MASK *WITH ADULT SUPERVISION, Use an X-Acto knife to remove the closed end of the film canister. *Make another small hole in the center of the paper plate the size of one end of the film canister. Insert the canister. Secure the canister with a little glue around the edge where it meets with the paper plate. 7