Slide+06

Slide 6 Why are maiden spirit masks made in African societies?
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BethanyM P1: Spirit masks were made in African societies because when someone died they would use a spirit mask to honor their past ancestors or members of the family line that have previously passed away. AlmaN P 2: Masks were made to honor family members that were passed away.They were also used to represent things; like young girls passing away or they were used at funerals, at this funeral the mask would be worn by a man and the man would be talking in a high pitched voice which would be encouraging deceased spirits to pass to the afterlife in order that they may become helpful ancestors.

OwenF P6: A spirit mask is used to honor ancestors that have passed into the after life. The spirit mask is used during funerary rituals as well.

NeelR P7: Spirit masks were worn in funerals ceremonies. The masks represented beautiful girls that have passed on. Even though the mask represented a female, they were also worn by males. At the neck there are pieces of fabric that are traces of costumes. The masker of the costume would speak in a high-pitched voice encouraging spirits to pass the afterlife and become helpful ancestors.


 *  AshleyC P2: The masks are made in African societies for many different reasons. One of the reasons is to represent beautiful young girls who have died. The mask was worn at funerary ceremonies and a person was inside of it and talked like a girl to represent the death of a female. A guy would wear the mask and pieces of fabric were placed around the neck and the rest of the costume. He would simulate like a female and talk in a high-pitch voice while encouraging the spirits to go on to the afterlife. **

What does the //Maiden Spirit Mask// teach about African traditional beliefs regarding the afterlife?

BethanyM P1: The maiden spirit mask teaches that they think the afterlife is the exact opposite from the living world. They think that if in the living world the people have black skin that in the afterlife the people would have white skin. This is one of the African traditional beliefs.

AlmaN P 2: The //Maiden Spirit Mask// teaches us that everything in the afterlife Is the opposite from everything in real life. Example: if people living in the world would have black skin, then spirits in the afterlife would have white skin.

OwenF P6: This certain mask teaches us that in the after life everything is opposite, so people with black skin would have white skin in the afterlife. This is represented by the white pigment on the mask.

NeelR P7: The Maiden Spirit Mask taught about African tradition beliefs that everything in the afterlife was opposite from the real world so people who have dark skin in the real world would have white skin in the afterlife. Some of these masks were made by the Igbo people of Nigeria in the 19th century.


 * AshleyC P2: It taught the children that in the afterlife everything would be the opposite. For Example: If you died and you had black skin than in the afterlife you would have white skin. They consider this mask a spirit and wear it at funeral ceremonies. This is what the mask taught and showed the beliefs regarding the afterlife. **

What animal is a part of the mask and why is it important?

BethanyM P1: There is an animal that is part of the mask called the hornbill bird. This animal is important because it is respected in Igbo culture for its dedication to family life and its good role-model behavior. They would want this animal on the mask in the afterlife because it was a symbol of good behavior, so in the afterlife they would want it to be on their so that their clans could have good behavior too.

AlmaN P 2: The hombill bird is the animal that is a part of the mask and it is important because of its dedication to family life and is considered a model for human behavior. It is to represent young girls who have passed away, the shape of the mask is to represent the hair do.

OwenF P6: This particular mask has a horn billed bird depicted on it. The features on the mask are the elaborate hair do and the shape of the head(these can be seen better from the back). The horn billed is important because it represents a family relationship.

NeelR P7: The animal that is part of the mask is the hornbill. It is respected in the Igbo culture for dedicating to family lives. It was also a model for human behavior.

AshleyC P2:
 * The animal that is a part of the mask is the hornbill bird. It is important because it is respected in Igbo culture and is considered a model for human behavior. It is respected in the Igbo culture for it's dedication to family. That is what animal is a part of the mask and why it is important. Just fir a reminder, the animal that is part of the mask is the hornbill bird. It was a symbol of good behavior and they wanted the people in the afterlife to have good behavior. **

