Richard “Gbagbo” Curtis is a Chicago born visual artist, drummer and mask maker. He is the founder of the Djobu Mask Society.
1.What is the Djobu Mask Society?
Djobu Mask Society was created to remember and represent the spirits of those Africans from Africa through the diaspora. We act as a bridge between the ancestors and the living. The Djobu mask society is represented by 3 spirits. Djobu which represents a more contemporary face of the african spirits in the diaspora.
The 2nd is the Maafa spirit mask which represents those spirits who died and survived the middle passage. The 3rd is the Simbi spirit mask which represents a nature spirit. The mask may be performed for many reasons from rights of passage of boys and girls,funeral ceremonies,wedding ceremonies,festivals, religious ceremonies, and many other celebrations. The mask comes out to represent and bring the presence of the spirits at any occasion.
2. What inspired the Djobu Mask Society?
The society was formed as a result of many people of African origin in the diaspora returning to their roots and embracing traditional and re-invented traditional African ceremonies. I was inspired when I drummed for a Zouli spirit mask dancer from Cote d’ Ivoire at a performance with a guinea west African drum and dance group I belonged to named Wonlande under the direction of Mohamed Diaby. The energy and presence that the masked spirit commanded was like nothing else I had ever experienced. I really felt the presence of the ancestors when zouli came out. After that performance I felt this was something that African Americans needed to help reconnect and be reminded of our ancestors and our connection with our homeland Africa.
3. How do you become a member and what are the criteria for membership?
Djobu mask society is a male based society. We seek males of African origin, who have come of age who possess a dedication to representing the spirit of our ancestors and are of good character. Currently we are forming Djobu mask societies in Austin,Houston, and Chicago. We are trying to represent our ancestors in as many places as possible. We are looking for (African men from Africa through the diaspora) to represent our ancestors where ever they are in the diaspora. We need drummers and mask dancers and others who can help facilitate the society. They can contact me if they are interested.
4. How do you intend to run this society?
I can not do this alone for this does not belong to me alone. I am but, an individual trying to represent all of those who perished /and survived the middle passage. I am a living testament to them. I need the help of others to set up societies (like chapters)where they are to represent our ancestors. We need drummers and mask dancers and others who can help facilitate the society.
5. Do you belief that masks-making and other artistic manifestations of that sort can play the kind of functional role in our contemporary world?
I do believe that mask making and masquerade societies play a role in our contemporary world because many of the societies that our ancestors have set up remain today to remind us of them. We know about who we are today because of the entities that they have set up and the faces or images that remain today that remind us of their spirit. It lives on and I believe that it is our duty to remind and remember that we did not get her all alone. We stand on the shoulders of Many people who sacrificed for us to be here today. I believe the djobu mask society can play a role in the diaspora to give black children a bigger sense of who they are and give them stronger roots to grow into big strong trees.
Contact: djobumasksociety@gmail.com
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