Joeren S.

Gonzalez 8-Mazzarello

Zamble Helmet Crest Mask

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to indulge you all in what I believe to be not just merely
an informative presentation but something that is also stimulating to our artistic senses. Today,
let me tell you about the Zamble Helmet Crest Mask. First of all, I find African culture to be
quite fascinating. And after hearing my presentation, you will already be familiar with one
artistic object that is part of the African history.

The Zamble Helmet Crest Mask is a representative of the Guro culture of the Ivory Coast.
It mixes features from many wild creatures, such as antelope horns and jaws resembling those of
a leopard. It also has big eyes, an extended nose, and striped horns that stick out from its
forehead. Along with the Gu and Zaouli, it is considered to be one of three sacred masks. Gu
used to be Zamble's wife, but in contemporary ceremonies, she is depicted as Zaouli, Zamble's
brother. All three masks are cult items to which sacrifices are occasionally made in order to drive
away evil spirits and bring prosperity to the family who owns them.

The Guro people create these kinds of masks to resemble the enigmatic, mythical
Zamble, which has the look of a strong, gorgeous young man. Its form is a reflection of these
qualities, including the antelope's grace, the power of the leopard's teeth, and the youthful vitality
of its dancing. Its close connection to death shows how significant the spiritual realm is to the
Guro people. Zamble masks would be worn, in accordance with the Art Institute of Chicago,
during a man's second funeral, which would be held months or years after the real burial to honor
the achievements of the departed. Competitions between mask dancers from two distinct families
served as the format for performances.

Artistic works like this mask demonstrate the crucial function that much African art
performs on religious occasions because generally, masks serve several purposes that go much
beyond those of a mere prop or performance assistance. Instead, they play a crucial role in the
ritual and are frequently believed to be endowed with magical abilities. These kinds of masks
have had its own impact on Western pop culture in recent years, especially African-American
pop culture. For instance, and you may be familiar with this one, they had an aesthetic impact on
the Marvel movie The Black Panther.

African culture encompasses more than just art. It also touches on religion, literature,
music, and basically any form of activity that allows for human self-expression outside of
science and technology.

I know that what is very popular right now is the Korean culture and I admire them, too.
However, there are cultures from other countries also worth exploring that also contributes to the
enrichment of our minds and I hope that today, I am able to open your minds to this idea of
exploring other cultures of the world.

Sources: https://www.maskmuseum.org/mask/guro-zamble-2/
https://www.theartstory.org/movement/african-art/