Although African Masks look really cool with their bold and abstract design, they were originally used as part of their ceremony costume. Different masks have different meanings. They were used for various ceremonies whether religious or social. Their masks represented the spirits of their ancestors uniting with the forces of nature in the community. When the mask was worn, it would come to life (kinda like the movie Mask with Jim Carrey) through the possession of the spirits in the performance of dance. A lot of the time the symbolism was related to nature or animals. This bond or relationship between man and the environment is highly valued in the African culture and has been represented throughout the ages of masks.
All of the masks would have symbolic meaning based on the design, line, color, texture and shapes
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