ABSTRACT
It is through such performative elements that the myths and legends on which African civiliz ation is based are examined, scrutinized and reinterpreted. In such traditional ceremonies, for example, the mask is considered the mater ial representation of a spiritual presence assuring the presence of the dead among the living. It can symbolize animals as well as humans. The mask therefore is an emblem, a sign that not only obliterates the personality of the wearer, but also identifies that person with a mythical ancestor or a supernatural being. It can also enable the wearer to take on the appearance of a being belonging to another species while retaining his own ancestral connections.
