African CultureMrs. Quinn Grade 6

Biombo Tribeo The Biombo live south of the intersection of the Luala and Kasai rivers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. o Biombo masks are usually carved from wood and coloured with red "tukula" powder, a dye made from the camwood tree. o The eyes are a typical coffee bean shape. A triangular checkerboard design is used to decorate the eyebrows and the planes of the face. Feathers are often attached to the top of Biombo masks. Biombo masks are usually worn during tribal rituals and ceremonies.

Bwa Tribeo The Bwa are primarily farmers. Since the early colonial days the largest cash crop is cotton, of which they often produce so much that they must purchase food for cash in distant markets o Bwa masks are believed to possess special powers which are controlled by those who wear them. o The Bwa come from Mali and Burkina Faso. Masks are only made by those who live in the southern parts of their territory.

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =ovAZyo_Xlh8

Pende Tribeo The Pende are mostly farmers who supplement their diet by hunting and fishing. They live in the southwest area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo around the Loango and Kasai Rivers. o The Pende mask above is a Panya Ngombe mask which has a combination of a human and buffalo features o This type of mask comes from the Kasai Pende who live in the east of their territory. These masks are decorated with incised triangular grids that are often Video painted with dark and light pigments to create a checkerboard effect. This Panya http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJLW Ngombe mask would be hung above the tokk18o&playnext=1&list=PLC123F10A door or window of a chiefs dwelling. 45FAEE5B

Senufo Tribeo The Senufo are a farming people of over 1,000,000 that stretch across various bordering countries in West Africa including the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso and South Mali. o Senufo masks combine features of animals and humans in a single design. o Senufo masks are used in the rites of the Poro society, a male organization that educates young men in the traditions and responsibilities necessary for their coming of age.

Where is Africa?

AFRICA

Bwa

Senufo Baule

Pende Biombo

Discussion Why do People wear Masks? Why do people make masks? How do masks make us feel? What are masks used for? WHAT does the mask represent?