[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on African Masquerade Traditions Honoring Women
Sande
Many cultures in Africa have institutions or social associations that educate community members, uphold moral values, and preside over public life. Mende peoples established institutions known as Sande associations a long time ago to educate young women and to address women's issues in the local community.In theory, all women belong to Sande.
The formal role of Sande begins in women's lives at puberty, when girls must undergo a rigorous training period that marks their transformation from child to adult (Geneva, 1999). There are also men's associations, which educate young men. Together these institutions share the responsibility of making political, economic and judicial decisions. The role of the Sande association is most visible when a group of girls is undergoing educational processes. The girls are taken to secluded camps away from the village and town and are taught proper female behavior, rules of conduct, and their roles as adults by older and respected women who are also leaders in the Sande association. During this period, which also includes the teaching of songs, dances and secret lore, a masked dancer will appear to mark important occasions. Like membership into Sande, the right to wear and dance the mask is exclusive to women.
The mask in Sande is seen as the embodiment of Sande's spiritual and healing forces. When the mask is not being performed in public with its complete costume, it is kept hidden and only certain leaders of Sande have access to it since it represents the sacred knowledge of the association. Knowing that the mask represents ideas about beauty, morals, and good behavior, the mask does not represent a living human being, rather a spiritual force and symbolizes power.....
