THE MASK (suite)1

Generally, the mask is an image of the spirit but it is not the spirit itself: The mask is supposed to capture the strenght of a human being or an animal at the moment of death. Themask can change the dancer's body who still possesses his indivicIuality; and he uses it like a living support which represents another being: a spirit, a mythical or fabulous animal which is then momentarily figured.

The mask protects. In fact, if the living strength released at the death was left wandering, the people alive would have been disturbed and peace broken. If this strenght was captured by the mask and so controlled, it was not distributed to the collectivity. But the mask also protected the dancer through the instrurnent used during the ceremony. And this usage was ritual.

Usually the masks were exhibited during the agricultural ceremonies or funeral celebrations. Generally they were seen as complete shows of music. song, and recitation of mythical poems and lasted often for several days. The wearing of a mask was generally deserved to men while women were merely not allowed to see it. During funeral celebrations the aim of an exhibition of masks was to be reminded of noticeable events which took place for the organization of the world or the society. That is what we call here cosmogony ofthe universe in African Art. And here lies the historical message whose analysis was given in a book entitled "African Art and its Message" and published by Editions CLE.