Masks are a feature of the African culture, having been used since the Palaeolithicr discusses the features and relevance African masks.

The to make the masks (Finley, 1999)very respected in the community, and were ranked high, and the people believed that the mask-makers were connected to some spirits. In most circumstances, the masks were shaped like an animal-muzzle, or the human face.

The African masks were symbolic. They were used to represent the spirits of ancestors or animals, moral values or mythological heroes. The African art of mask-making, mostly featured animals, and a representation of abstract subjects, hence stylization. For example, the mask of the antelope was worn to represent agriculture (Finley, 1999

The African masks represented different ideas. Some animals represented virtues, while the other represented evil (Finley, 1999)

In sum, African masks have been a feature of African art for a long time. The masks are used to symbolize abstract subjects. The masks represented both evil and good, in society. They were mostly used in rituals and ceremonies.

Reference

Finley, C. (1999).The Art of African Masks: Exploring Cultural TraditionsMinneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications.