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LIFE TRANSITIONS
All people experience moments that mark important passages from one stage of life to the next -- from childhood to adulthood; through marriage, parenthood, and old age; and to death and the unknown afterlife. Many of these transitions require stressful changes and risks. Much of traditional African art is concerned with the communal desire for all members of society to proceed safely through life transitions. These objects can be symbolic as well as imbued with powers to assist in life's passages.
Two of the most culturally significant transitions are from childhood to adulthood and from death to the afterlife. At these times, an individual's successful passage is seen to have a profound impact on the religious, political, physical, and social well-being of the entire community. As a result, the most serious and dangerous rituals in African cultures are often related to initiations into adult status and to funerals. Conducting successful ceremonies during these periods is the primary function of most African masks, many examples of which are shown here. This gallery also includes human figures, distinctive garments, and other objects that relate to rituals, ceremonies, and signs of transitions. |