Some of the main themes of Edward Kamau Brathwaite’s "Masks" are identity (particularly the complexities of Afro-Caribbean identity), fragmentation, and reconciliation with alienation.

In "Masks," Brathwaite is on a quest to discover himself through discovering Africa, a continent he knows is at the root of his identity despite the fact that he was not born there. He takes a close look at the culture of Africa, particularly the culture of the Akan people of Ghana and their religious rituals. He does not shy away from presenting the negative elements of Africa's histories, but rather explores the tensions between the enduring creative spirit of the native peoples and the legacies of violent colonial disruption.

In presenting Africa in this way, Brathwaite highlights how Africa was at the root of the Black diaspora and thus plays a foundational role in the development of Afro-Caribbean identity. Brathwaite writes a great deal in his poetry about how colonization has led to cultural fragmentation, which has led to people with African roots being alienated from Africa. In "Masks," he is bringing attention to the cultural identities that were "submerged" as a result of fragmentation and suggesting that in exploring them, one can come to find one's true self. Thus, in "Masks," Brathwaite is ultimately suggesting that it is possible to reconcile one's alienation from Africa.