Suggestions for Mask-Making Activities

Create a mask and act out an African folk tale.

African folk tales and myths can provide a wealth of opportunities for reading, geography and social studies units. You may enhance your students' enjoyment and understanding of the literature by developing an activity in which they create masks and act out the stories. You may also suggest that they write and perform folk tales of their own.

Select an animal which exemplifies some quality or characteristic which is desirable and create a mask that simbolizes the animal.

Discuss the notion of animal metaphors with your class. Have each student select an animal which exemplifies some quality or characteristic which they find desirable, for example: lion-bravery; elephant-strength; monkey-cleverness; gazelle or antelope-grace; cat-agility; dog-fidelity. Which of these traits might people attribute to their rulers? To their ancestors? To soldiers or hunters? To mother or fathers? Why?

With older children, more sophisticated ideas might be introduced. for instance, the leopard is associated with speed and ferocity, but it can also see at night. Hoe does this ability separate it from other animals and from man? Why would this quality be important to people who do not have wide spread access to artificial lighting?

Masks can also combine the features of several animals as in the Senufo Mask of Mythic Protector [2] or the Kuba Mukyeem Mask [5]. How does the use of different creatures in composition enable the artist to emphasize the concepts of power, strength, and aggression? Do the combinations make the images more or less effective in conveying these ideas? Why?

Create a caricature mask emphasizing distinctive features and mannerisms of a person.

Satire is an honored feature of many African masquerades. Suggest that the students select a person, either an individual or a type (e.g., rock star, athlete, teacher or parent), and create a caricature mask, emphasizing distinctive features and mannerisms. Is it necessary for the mask to present an exact likeness of the subject to the mask to aid in the identification of the subject? How can the masker enhance the likeness by using gesture, movement, costume and speech?