1. Lee Adams Kusinski
Central Connecticut State University
Africa is home to
about 215 different
people groups
Method:
This project used Geographical Information Science (GIS) to locate the people groups of Liberia, so as to know the geographical sources of their
ceremonial masks. Masks, as a form of traditional folk art, represent well the ethnicity of the mask creators. The people groups dwell in their
habitats on the ground in spatial patterns influenced by their landscape; their art is created from local materials. Ceremonial masks have been used
around the world for millenniums. Symbolism, a significant part of a mask's design, is influenced by the culture or ethnicity of the mask creator. The
continent of Africa, and in particular, the Republic of Liberia, is home to many mask creators, due to the large number of people groups that still
practice traditional ways. Their culture is controlled by religious and social structures with ceremonies that involve masks.
`
Result: Map of Liberia Showing Sixteen People Groups and an Assortment of Their Masks
The top row represents data for people groups that was found
online, in the form of one ESRI polygon type feature class and four
map images. The maps were georeferenced, and digitized to create
polygon type feature classes. The maps were then intersected. The
feature class at the bottom far left was created by adding a field to
the table to represent the average of the five input data’s people
groups. The features in each feature class were then merged
individually to create the middle feature class image representing
the sixteen people groups. That, or the feature class representing
Joshua Project ethno-linguistic groups may be used as is, or further
editing with more data could be performed.
The following quote expresses a Gola mask carver's feelings when he first saw his mask in a public performance (d'Azevedo 1993):
It is not possible to see anything more wonderful in this world. His face is shining, he looks this way and that, and all the people wonder about this beautiful and terrible thing. To me, it is
like what I see when I am dreaming. I say to myself, this is what my neme [spiritual guardian] has brought into my mind. I say, I have made this. How can I make such a thing? It is a fearful
thing I can do. No other man can do it unless he has the right knowledge. No woman can do it. I feel that I have borne children.
LIBERIA
References
Joshua Project Map and Major Religion Data:
Author unknown. 2014. People Groups in Google Maps. Joshua
Project. Obtained from http://joshuaproject.net/google_maps/LI
Population Density :
Author unknown. Population and Tribal Groups. Obtained from
http://lib.texas.edu
d'Azevedo, Warren L. June 2010 - December 2010. "Mask
Makers and Myth in Western Liberia," Arts of Africa, Oceania,
and the Americas, 1993. A Gola Carver's Mask "Comes to Life".
Exhibitions ›Liberian Helmet Masks of the Sande and Poro. SFO
Museum, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA
Obtained from
http://www.flysfo.com/museum/exhibitions/3495/detail?num=5
LEGEND
Traditional Religion with Light Population
Traditional Religion with Medium Population
Traditional Religion with Dense Population
Christianity with Light Population
Christianity with Medium Population
Christianity with Dense Population
Islam with Light Population
Islam with Medium Population
Islam with Dense Population
Locations of Major Religions and
Population Density
No Mask
Available
ESRI polygon type feature
class found online
Rarelibra. Map of the clans of
Liberia.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Liberia_clans.png
Author unknown. Tribes Dealt With in the
Report. http://www.djembola.com
Murdock, G.P. 1996. Ethnolinguistic groups of Africa.
Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-Saharan_Africa
Author unknown. Liberia Maps. Obtained from
Bing images: http://www.globalsecurity.org
Result of Intersection
of Maps Above Joshua Project Map
Result of Intersection
of Maps Above