Across West Africa, Indigenous communities mark holidays, rites, and sacred events with a remarkable variety of ceremonies ranging from dances to processions. These masquerade traditions incorporate meticulously carved masks and full-body costumes that often facilitate links between humans and the spiritual world. There’s evidence of masked customs dating back millennia, and today, artists continue the tradition of hand-hewn masks and ensembles in vivid colors and a wide array of materials—sometimes with a twist.
The exhibition New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations, which opens at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg next month, celebrates contemporary creations by four artists: Chief Ekpenyong Bassey Nsa (Nigeria), David Sanou (Burkina Faso), Sheku “Goldenfinger” Fofanah (Sierra Leone), and Hervé Youmbi (Cameroon). Along with displays of some of their masks and full ensembles, visitors will be able to explore documentary photographs and videos of ceremonies and parades in addition to immersive multimedia experiences.

“Across many West African cultures, masquerade a broad range of artistic, social, spiritual, and civic traditions,” the museum says. “Encompassing sculpture, textiles, performance, music, movement, and community participation, these performance traditions continuously adapt to contemporary life.” Sanou’s geometric masks are bold and brightly painted, often paired with costumes made from colorfully dyed fiber. And one can even spot pop culture references in Youmbi’s “Tso Scream Mask,” for example, which coats the iconic visage from the Scream movie franchise with thousands of beads.
New African Masquerades is conceived as a dynamic exploration of the masquerade tradition’s collaborative and community-based practices, inviting viewers to a kind of reverie where time-honored heritage meets constant innovation. The show is organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art in partnership with the MuseĂ© des Civilisations noires in Dakar, Senegal. The exhibition opens on August 15 and continues through January 3, 2027, in St. Pete, Florida. Follow updates on the museum’s Instagram.







Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Innovation Meets Heritage in West African Contemporary Artists’ Masquerade Ensembles appeared first on Colossal.
AMSTERDAM (ANP) - Madonna is komend weekeinde zoals verwacht in Amsterdam. De Amerikaanse superster laat zich zaterdag zien tijdens het World Pride Music Festival in AFAS Live, kondigt ze woensdag aan via Instagram. Het is niet duidelijk of ze ook zal zingen.
Op de line-up van het feest staat ook dj Honey Dijon, die al meerdere keren samenwerkte met Madonna. Ze remixte verschillende van haar nummers en draaide al op promo-evenementen van Madonna's nieuwe album CONFESSIONS II.
Madonna verraste Nederlandse fans dinsdag plots met een Nederlandse boodschap. "Ik heb iets waar ik over wil praten", plaatste ze op sociale media. De tekst "I've got something I wanna talk about" komt uit een van Madonna's recentste singles Bring Your Love met Sabrina Carpenter.
Op het affiche van het tweedaagse World Pride Music Festival van zaterdag staan ook onder anderen Bebe Rexha en Paris Hilton.
Nelly Korda may be a safer bet, but home fans would be thrilled to see Hull triumph at Royal Lytham & St Annes
Nelly Korda may be the likeliest winner of the Women’s Open but there is no question who would be the most popular. Charley Hull’s brushes with major glory – she has five runner-up finishes – have only intensified a widespread desire for the 30-year-old to break through the tape. Royal Lytham & St Annes provides the latest opportunity for the flamboyant English star.
Korda arrived in Lancashire with half her four major triumphs having come in 2026. Perhaps the Floridian can afford to be generous. Korda has endorsed Hull’s prospects. “She’s such a great personality,” said Korda. “I think it would be great for her to do it on kind of home soil, too. She’s an amazing player, a funny personality for sure. I enjoy playing with her any time. It would be great for the game of golf.”
Continue reading...