Angola is a country in the southern part of Africa, and this amazing mask was made in this land 150 years ago by the Chowke people. Art is really important in traditional African culture. Artists are highly respected people. The things they make are used and saved for a very long time. One very famous kind of art in Africa is masks, like this ancestor spirit mask made nearly 100 years ago.
Most of us think of masks that are disguises or a game at Halloween, but in Africa masks are an important part of history and ceremony. Traditional masks symbolize the spirits of animals and people. Masks are worn by dancers during celebrations, sometimes by chiefs and rulers when they make laws, and even by teachers as they tell young people about their history and traditions. Can you imagine your teacher putting on this mask for your next social studies lesson?
The Chokwe traditionally used masks to call the spirits of their ancestors, encouraging them to guide, protect, and educate the living. This mask is made from carved wood, dry reeds, burlap, bird feathers, and paint.
Today the Chokwe people live in Angola, as well as Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Namibia. The people speak a unique Chokwe language as well as the official language of their country (Portugese in Angola, English in Zambia and Namibia, French in DRC). Along with farming and raising cattle, the Chokwe are famous for their artwork, including baskets, pottery, mask carvings, statues, stools, and other handicrafts.