Mask observation: how artists are reinventing African masquerade

An exhibition touring the US brings together contemporary artists using the ancient form of masquerade to explore issues from politics to self-realisation“This debt we pay to human guile; with torn and bleeding hearts we smile,” wrote African-American poet Paul Dunbar in his 1896 poem, We Wear the Mask. About 100 years later the Fugees rapped, “Put the mask upon the face just to make the next day/ Feds be hawkin me, jokers be stalking me/ I walk the streets and camouflage my id