THE AFRICAN MASQUERADE

Africa is undoubtedly the culture capital of the world. Home of elaborate human displays where even nature puts on her wildest shows of excellence. A continent of 54 sovereign states, each unique in their language, cultural practices, and ways of life, yet all united in our shared “Africanness”.

Africa is where nature lives and cultures thrive. We are distinguishable by our Fashion, music, dance, food and language. When we dress it is colorful. When we cook, it is a feast of flavor, and when we dance, we do it like nobody else can.

Dance for the African is not simply a sequence of body movements to the sound of music. It is an expression of our most innate emotions. An integral part of our lives that is almost second nature to us. There’s a song for everything and a dance to go with it.

In Nigeria for example, there’s the warrior dance called ‘takai’ performed by the Hausa warriors before going to war, there’s a ceremonial dance ‘atilogwu’, performed by the Igbo tribe whenever there is cause for joy. There’s a harvest dance, a marriage dance, and even a funeral dance performed to mark the passing of a very old person as a celebration of their life. When we are happy, we dance, when we are sad we sing, and also dance. It’s just the way we are.

Wherever Africans gather, there’s dance. And wherever there’s dance, you best believe there’s at least one masquerade nearby to add that touch of divinity to an already ecstatic atmosphere.

Every African knows a masquerade when they see one. They dance extremely well, scare the socks off women and children, and always exit the stage when the applause is at its peak. Leaving the crowd wanting more. They come in an assortment of shapes, sizes and colors

But is that all there is to masquerades? No.

Apart from being objects of great entertainment, African masquerades are an essential element of the continent's cultural heritage. They are a representation of the continent's diverse cultural identities, history, and spirituality.

The first significance of African masquerades is their role in preserving and transmitting cultural traditions. Their performances actually reflect the customs and beliefs of various African societies, and they serve as a medium for passing on cultural knowledge and values from one generation to the next.

The masquerade performances are often accompanied by storytelling, music, and dance, which are used to convey important lessons and moral teachings. These performances provide a sense of continuity and identity to the African communities, helping to maintain cultural coherence and a sense of belonging.

They are also very often associated with religious practices and rituals. In many cultures, they serve as a means of connecting the physical and spiritual worlds. They’re used to invoke ancestral spirits, gods, and other supernatural entities which are believed to possess the performers. The performers, in turn, act as intermediaries between the spiritual and physical worlds, conveying messages and blessings to the community.

The shapes, sizes and colors of the African masquerades are not random or incidental either. Everything on an African masquerade is significant and clearly thought out.

For example, masquerades adorned with mirrors are generally forbidden to look at, as it is considered bad luck to view one’s reflection in the mirrors of a masquerade especially for women.

The idea of a masquerade that people should not look at may sound funny at first, but it starts to make sense when you understand that not all masquerades exist for our entertainment. Some are royal masquerades, and others are considered deities.

Not all masquerades have humanlike forms, but those that do are generally either performers, disciplinarians, or intermediaries between the masquerades who cannot speak, and the humans they often seek to communicate with.

The general rule of thumb with masquerades is this. If a masquerade holds a cane, a staff, or a whip, run. If they’re so tall you literally have to struggle to see their head, stand and watch, because it’s about to be a cultural display. If they have mirrors, look away. If they carry fresh blood, skulls, bones or huge masks, still stand and watch, but from a far distance and do not attempt to take pictures.

Whether or not we understand them, masquerades should be respected and considered part of our grand cultural ecosystem. We may not all agree on the logic behind them, but we can all respect their cultural, spiritual significance, and enjoy their presence now that they still are around.