Introduction- Enter the mask- The study of masking- Structure of the bookThe Masking Crescent: Distribution of Masks and Masking in Africa1. Mask Distribution and Theory- Masking zones- Theoretical approach- Parameters of masking- Profiles of masking societies- The zebu exclusion- Methodology2. What is a Mask- Explaining masks: The Magritte effect- A basic mask typology- Bush, spirits, ancestors, and other people- Masks and power- Tradition, prototype and invention- Conclusion3. Masks and Masculinity: Initiation- Chewing the mask- Separation from the mother- Liminal revelation- Mask and circumcision- Symbols of gender: Death and food- Communitas and age- Masks and masculinities- Conclusion4. Secrecy and Power- Writing on the mask- Dimensions of secrecy- Initiation societies and the empty secret- The sound of secrecy- Ethics, society, and secrecy- Conclusion5. Death and its Masks - Singing at the mask- Burial and the farewells- Burial by masks- Funeral as initiation- Individual and society in funerals- Masks and the second funeral- Celebrating life- Conclusion6. Women: Pivot of the Masks- The first mask- Gender domains- Celebrating femininity- Women dancing with masks- The mask of the woman is her body- Conclusion7. Masks and Politics - Masks for father- Masks and the history of the patriline - Feasting the sultan- The mask as king- Initiation, masks, and regicide- Masquerades and modern politics- Conclusion: The Akan gap8.

Masks and the Order of Things- Masks in the field- Masks and the adjudication of law- The discourse on witchcraft- Masks versus ''witches'' - ''Uncovering witchcraft'': A mask performance abroad- ''War masks'' - Conclusion9. Masks and Modernity- Playful sharks in the Delta- Theatre at Cross River- The king of masks, the elephant of masks- Masks for new audiences- Masks as icons of ethnic identity- Heritage, icon, and commodity- Conclusion10. Memories of Power, Power of Memories- Arrest that mask!- Satire, the weapon of the weak- Masquerades and the slaving state- From Africa to the African Diaspora - Conclusion11. Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndexnd the second funeral- Celebrating life- Conclusion6. Women: Pivot of the Masks- The first mask- Gender domains- Celebrating femininity- Women dancing with masks- The mask of the woman is her body- Conclusion7. Masks and Politics - Masks for father- Masks and the history of the patriline - Feasting the sultan- The mask as king- Initiation, masks, and regicide- Masquerades and modern politics- Conclusion: The Akan gap8. Masks and the Order of Things- Masks in the field- Masks and the adjudication of law- The discourse on witchcraft- Masks versus ''witches'' - ''Uncovering witchcraft'': A mask performance abroad- ''War masks'' - Conclusion9. Masks and Modernity- Playful sharks in the Delta- Theatre at Cross River- The king of masks, the elephant of masks- Masks for new audiences- Masks as icons of ethnic identity- Heritage, icon, and commodity- Conclusion10.

Memories of Power, Power of Memories- Arrest that mask!- Satire, the weapon of the weak- Masquerades and the slaving state- From Africa to the African Diaspora - Conclusion11. Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndex Conclusion11. Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndexnd the second funeral- Celebrating life- Conclusion6. Women: Pivot of the Masks- The first mask- Gender domains- Celebrating femininity- Women dancing with masks- The mask of the woman is her body- Conclusion7. Masks and Politics - Masks for father- Masks and the history of the patriline - Feasting the sultan- The mask as king- Initiation, masks, and regicide- Masquerades and modern politics- Conclusion: The Akan gap8. Masks and the Order of Things- Masks in the field- Masks and the adjudication of law- The discourse on witchcraft- Masks versus ''witches'' - ''Uncovering witchcraft'': A mask performance abroad- ''War masks'' - Conclusion9. Masks and Modernity- Playful sharks in the Delta- Theatre at Cross River- The king of masks, the elephant of masks- Masks for new audiences- Masks as icons of ethnic identity- Heritage, icon, and commodity- Conclusion10. Memories of Power, Power of Memories- Arrest that mask!- Satire, the weapon of the weak- Masquerades and the slaving state- From Africa to the African Diaspora - Conclusion11.

Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndexnd the second funeral- Celebrating life- Conclusion6. Women: Pivot of the Masks- The first mask- Gender domains- Celebrating femininity- Women dancing with masks- The mask of the woman is her body- Conclusion7. Masks and Politics - Masks for father- Masks and the history of the patriline - Feasting the sultan- The mask as king- Initiation, masks, and regicide- Masquerades and modern politics- Conclusion: The Akan gap8. Masks and the Order of Things- Masks in the field- Masks and the adjudication of law- The discourse on witchcraft- Masks versus ''witches'' - ''Uncovering witchcraft'': A mask performance abroad- ''War masks'' - Conclusion9. Masks and Modernity- Playful sharks in the Delta- Theatre at Cross River- The king of masks, the elephant of masks- Masks for new audiences- Masks as icons of ethnic identity- Heritage, icon, and commodity- Conclusion10. Memories of Power, Power of Memories- Arrest that mask!- Satire, the weapon of the weak- Masquerades and the slaving state- From Africa to the African Diaspora - Conclusion11. Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndex Conclusion11. Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndex Conclusion11.

Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndexnd the second funeral- Celebrating life- Conclusion6. Women: Pivot of the Masks- The first mask- Gender domains- Celebrating femininity- Women dancing with masks- The mask of the woman is her body- Conclusion7. Masks and Politics - Masks for father- Masks and the history of the patriline - Feasting the sultan- The mask as king- Initiation, masks, and regicide- Masquerades and modern politics- Conclusion: The Akan gap8. Masks and the Order of Things- Masks in the field- Masks and the adjudication of law- The discourse on witchcraft- Masks versus ''witches'' - ''Uncovering witchcraft'': A mask performance abroad- ''War masks'' - Conclusion9. Masks and Modernity- Playful sharks in the Delta- Theatre at Cross River- The king of masks, the elephant of masks- Masks for new audiences- Masks as icons of ethnic identity- Heritage, icon, and commodity- Conclusion10. Memories of Power, Power of Memories- Arrest that mask!- Satire, the weapon of the weak- Masquerades and the slaving state- From Africa to the African Diaspora - Conclusion11. Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndex Conclusion11. Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndex, Power of Memories- Arrest that mask!- Satire, the weapon of the weak- Masquerades and the slaving state- From Africa to the African Diaspora - Conclusion11.

Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndex Conclusion11. Conclusion- The cultural niche for masquerades- A future for masks?BibliographySources for ethnographic casesPicture creditsIndex.