ABSTRACT
African children's masquerades are often simpler than adult ones, in the quality of the masks and dress, the dance and music, and the length of their performances. Children's pre-initiation masking, particularly if it involves emulating adult masking forms, or taking part in adult rituals, assists the youths to understand something of the traditions and history of their culture. The acquisition of masquerade knowledge and performance skills in childhood helps prepare youths for their initiations, and for later adult masquerade activities and rituals. Children's masquerades in Africa are generally forms of play, raising questions about the relationships of childhood masking to other types of play. Children may mask with adult masqueraders of the same gender, or with adults taking part in unmasked rituals. Children's pre-initiation masquerading in this category exhibit greater independence from adults than in the Integrated Masquerades. The chapter also considers boys' pre-initiation masquerades, and then the girls' performances.
