African Masks

Keywords

What is a mask?

Can you try making a mask using your hands/fingers?

These are African tribal masks.

What do you think the Africans used these for?

Many African tribes make masks out of wood. The person will carve the wood into a design and then paint it using coloured

pigments from charcoal, vegetables and trees.

The masks are worn by people during rituals or cultural ceremonies.

African masks have a spiritual and religious meaning to the African people. When they

wear masks during ceremonies they take on a new identity. They become the person or

animal in the mask.

Some African masks may have extra features attached to them.

What extra features can you see in these masks?

You will need:

Plain Paper

Pencil

Colouring pencils

On your piece of paper, try and draw one of the African masks below.You can print/use the mask template on the next page as a guide.

On your piece of paper try and draw the African mask below. You can print/use the mask template on the next page as a guide.

Use the Internet to help you research African masks.

After having a look at a few different ideas, use the mask template on the next page to design your own African mask.

Remember to include:

• Facial features e.g. mouth, eyes.

• African patterns

• Hair

• African colours