Masquerade ceremonies have evolved over centuries, and performances range from coming-of-age celebrations, to funerary processions, to ancestor venerations. Masquerades are unique to the community and organization hosting them, but their driving fore are the participants themselves. Donning the mask, a performer embodies a character of the masquerade, whether solemn or comedic.

We are proud to have numerous West African masks in our permanent collection and now display three masks for public view.

Children playing with a discarded mask used in a previous masquerade. 1984, Southeast Nigeria. This image is copyright. Reproduced with permission of University of Cambridge Museum of Archeology & Anthropology through use of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International License. (N.71839.GIJ)

Two masqueraders known as Ogu Aba (singers) performing in the Nkporo Ifogu masquerade. 1939, Eastern Nigeria. This image is copyright. Reproduced with permission of University of Cambridge Museum of Archeology & Anthropology through use of Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International License. (N.13099.GIJ)

See mask performances representing the spirits of nature in the Winiama village of Ouri, in central Burkina Faso.