Fascinating details behind African mask festivals and masquerades you need to know

Burkina Faso

For the communities in Burkina Faso, the mask festival is a way to link up with their ancestors.  Through frantic music and dancing, the mask wearer is transformed into a spirit and an elder or a wise man translates the message to the people.

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Many people hold the spirit in high regard and believe that the mask wearer cannot be overtaken by the spirit because it is too strong and no one would be able to photograph anything.

Burkina Faso was the host of the 2016 FESTIMA, (International Art and Mask Festival in West Africa), which happens every two years.