African Masks: Fusion of Creativity and Culture

The word mask brings about an exciting feeling within me. Perhaps it is because of the mystery that comes with donning one, or maybe just the mere fact of anonymity that it can bring. With these face covers, I always remember costume parties or masquerades that I see on television and movies, like the Phantom of the Opera. Even if they put a lot of mystery in the air, there is always something exciting and festive about putting them on, especially if they are bright and colorful. They also remind of festivals, where they are part of colorful costumes of dancers and performers on the streets. They may not have much of a practical use, but I can certainly say these face covers are one stylish, creative and colorful bunch, depending on the use. They can bring forth anonymity or they can enhance a costume. And in terms of the words enhancement and creativity, African masks come to mind.

Africa, in its most objective description, is a continent that is the second largest of all continents. Subjectively, this place always brings to mind the words creativity, culture and tradition. Why? Because when you think of the place, you just think of all the ways that they have done to preserve their culture when it comes to their daily practices, and the artistry that is known to them alone. This artistry is shared and is appreciated by many countries in the World. The face covers that are known to be creatively African are just some of the many things that this continent can boast of in terms of artistry.

I have established earlier that Africa has a blatantly expressed culture compared with other continents. This culture is shown by their daily practices, their occasional rituals, and the way they celebrate events and express their beliefs. The mask is piece of material that has a significant value to their culture. If we mostly see them in terms of decoration and artistry, people in Africa see these things as a reflection of their beliefs; an expression of that signifies their reminiscence of their ancestors or a way to drive away certain spirits. They are also use to present the features that they want displayed.

As such, one could only think of the utter imagination that must have taken for the realization of these face disguises. Indeed, African masks are very creative, in style, in design and in color. They are ones that do not only garner appreciation for their reflection of African culture, but also for their utmost decorative potential. You can use them to decorate your home, your office, or any place that you might deem good for their display.

Why are they good decorations? Well, the obvious reason would be the sheer artistry that you would get from them. Everyone loves art, and yet art is something that is relative for each person. But most people would probably say that a beautiful decorative piece would consist of how intricate it has been made and how the artwork is presented. These face covers are certainly those? The other reason is that it can reflect ones appreciation for a culture. Even if you are not part of the African culture, you might find importance in having something that will remind you of the beliefs of another group of people.

Creative--- one word, yet it describes African masks so much.

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