Within Western cultures, the word “mask” usually conjures up images of Halloween, or Mardi Gras, but to the Bedik tribe of Senegal in Africa, masks have a deeper meaning. Right now, we’re listening to the sounds of the Bedik as they perform one of their traditional masked rituals. I’m Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet, presented by DuPont.
“The individual inside who’s concealed in the mask loses his human identity. So “mask” is the face, the costume, and the individual inside.”
Carol Beckwith is a photographer who has spent much of her life documenting the traditions of Africa.
“The Bedik masks have a marvelous, almost elephant-like, tree fiber face. Surrounding this are perhaps a thousand leaves that are attached onto a large body costume, so what you’re seeing looks like a bush coming out of the sacred forest.”
According to the Bedik people, the sacred forest is the home of these spiritual masks, who come out of the forest to bless the crops. The members of the secret masking societies are the only ones allowed to enter the mystical groves where the masks dwell.
“Their role is to enter all of the houses, to go into every nook and cranny of the village, and make sure that there is nothing evil or negative that could impact in a bad way the agricultural activity that’s soon to take place.”
Please visit our website at nationalgeographic.com. Pulse of the Planet is presented by DuPont, bring you the miracles of science, with additional support provided by the National Science Foundation. I’m Jim Metzner.
Africa: Bedik / Mask
Among the Bedik people of Senegal, a mask is much more than a disguise.
Air Date:08/23/2000
Scientist:
Transcript:
ambience: Bedik Dakota mask sounds
Within Western cultures, the word "mask" usually conjures up images of Halloween, or Mardi Gras, but to the Bedik tribe of Senegal in Africa, masks have a deeper meaning. Right now, we're listening to the sounds of the Bedik as they perform one of their traditional masked rituals. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet, presented by DuPont.
"The individual inside who's concealed in the mask loses his human identity. So "mask" is the face, the costume, and the individual inside."
Carol Beckwith is a photographer who has spent much of her life documenting the traditions of Africa.
"The Bedik masks have a marvelous, almost elephant-like, tree fiber face. Surrounding this are perhaps a thousand leaves that are attached onto a large body costume, so what you're seeing looks like a bush coming out of the sacred forest."
According to the Bedik people, the sacred forest is the home of these spiritual masks, who come out of the forest to bless the crops. The members of the secret masking societies are the only ones allowed to enter the mystical groves where the masks dwell.
"Their role is to enter all of the houses, to go into every nook and cranny of the village, and make sure that there is nothing evil or negative that could impact in a bad way the agricultural activity that's soon to take place."
Please visit our website at nationalgeographic.com. Pulse of the Planet is presented by DuPont, bring you the miracles of science, with additional support provided by the National Science Foundation. I'm Jim Metzner.