Masque Yoruba de la société GuèlédéMuseum d'histoire naturelle et préhistoire de Nîmes
Ethnic masks, ritual symbols
Masks are found across the world. They are essential elements of the life of the community. Each mask has a particular shape, material, or color, in line with the codes of the cultures that use them.
Photos archives de dansesMuseum d'histoire naturelle et préhistoire de Nîmes
Ready, mask, dance!
As a ritual object, the mask is worn during specific ceremonies. It consists of a garment, a carved part that usually represents the face and sometimes a headdress. The initiated mask wearer dances to the rhythm of the music and songs. He connects his community with the afterlife (gods or ancestors).
La collection des masques du muséum d’histoire naturelle de NîmesMuseum d'histoire naturelle et préhistoire de Nîmes
The 13 masks held by the Nîmes Natural History Museum entered its collections between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. These objects were then very popular in Europe: new masks were discovered during explorations of the African hinterland. Their aesthetics inspired European artists.
Punu mask—Gabon
With their characteristic white color, these masks, named Mukuyi, are widespread in the southern Gabonese societies, like Punus. These masks are recognizable by their triangular shape, slanted eyes, and kaolin-bleached color.
Masque blanc Punu 2/2Museum d'histoire naturelle et préhistoire de Nîmes
White masks often represent female spirits. They are worn by dancers perched on stilts during funeral ceremonies. Their color evokes the afterlife and the world of the dead.
In Gabon, there are as many styles of Mukuyi as societies that exist. The style of the Punu people is characterized by fine features, hemmed lips and a diamond pattern on the forehead.
Yoruba mask—Benin
This mask is used during the Gelede, a Yoruba ceremony. Performed at the end of the harvest and in case of drought or epidemic, the Gelede is a tribute to the primordial mother, Iyà Nlà, and to the importance of women in society.
Masque Yoruba de la société GuèlédéMuseum d'histoire naturelle et préhistoire de Nîmes
Carved in a single wood block, these masks are divided into two parts.
The lower part always shows the face of a serene woman.
On the upper part, each artist sculpts elements that refer to daily life, religion or politics. These masks convey the mystical powers of women.
Mossi mask—Burkina Faso
Grouped under the name of Gurunsi, the ethnic groups of central Burkina Faso have a long tradition of sculpting spectacular masks in various forms. They mostly represent animals such as antelopes, bats, and buffaloes.
Masque Mossi de Haute Volta à tête de bovidéMuseum d'histoire naturelle et préhistoire de Nîmes
This mask, with a vegetable fiber ruff, represents a bovid combined with a hornbill bird. This merging confers to the sculpture the double power of the two animals' spirit.
Given its small size, the mask is not intended to be worn on the face but rather on the head.
Sinhalese mask—Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, this mask is known as the devil dance mask. Maha-kola Sanniya, the great demon of disease, leader of the 18 diseases demons is depicted by there miniature representations. Sinhalese believe that illnesses are caused by demons interfering with our vital energies.
Masque Cinghalais dit de la "Danse du diable" du Sri LankaMuseum d'histoire naturelle et préhistoire de Nîmes
On this large wooden mask, each demon is embodied by a specific mask and is responsible for a particular disease.
The patient is represented by a removable wooden statuette held by the central figure.
The disease can be cured by exorcism dance rituals known as Tovil. The dance has several stages, which culminate in the healing of the patient if the demon accepts the offerings and blessings.
Apuema mask—New Caledonia
In New Caledonia, all masks share similar characteristics: a carved wooden figure, a conical top made of human hair, and a long feathered robe.
Masque KanakMuseum d'histoire naturelle et préhistoire de Nîmes
The prominent forehead and the strong rounded eyebrows accentuate the presence of the prominent nose. This figure comes from the north of the Grande Terre, New Caledonia's main island.
The rectangular-shaped mouth shows a full and sharp set of teeth. This hole offers good visibility to the mask wearer.
The hairs are those of men who, following the death of one of their relatives, watched over the body until its complete decomposition. During this mourning, they let their hair grow which is to be cut during a ceremony and put on top of the mask. The women weave the canvas made of flying fox hairs, which holds the hair in place.
Dance mask—Malakula Island, Vanuatu archipelago
On the island of Malakula, located in the archipelago of Vanuatu, this mask is used during the traditional grade rituals. These ceremonies allowed the men to reinforce their importance within the community.
Masque de l'archipel du VanuatuMuseum d'histoire naturelle et préhistoire de Nîmes
The face is the face of a human-like animal. It is set in a single volume of a folded diamond.
Usually, the grade masks were burned at the end of the ceremony. This is why a rather small number of them are kept in Western collections.
Realization: Ville de Nîmes - Muséum d'histoire naturelle et de préhistoire
Iconography: © Ville de Nîmes - Muséum d'histoire naturelle et de préhistoire
