
African Masks 2008 Wall Calendar | African Masks Calendar : Wall : 2008 Since ancient times, masks have been at the center of African ceremonial and social life. Their functions are complex and varied: they validate political authority, initiate youths into adulthood, protect communities from witchcraft, assist the spirits of the dead, and teach social values. The mask transforms its wearer into an expression of a spirit force, which comes to life through music, dance, or ceremony. The twelve striking masks in this calendar, all from the Brooklyn Museum, were made during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and represent ten different African cultures. This 2008 calendar is produced by Pomegranate in the category African Art calendars. |