Songye mask

Elegance and grace distinguish this imposing design by Victoria Agyepomaa. Carved by hand of sese wood, it depicts a serene personage with symmetrical features, a wide forehead and neatly combed hair. She names this original African mask Klenam, meaning "shine for me" in the language of Ghana's Ewe people.

"These types of African masks, designed to unveil the magician, are carved on the eve of the ceremony. That Strict facets should counteract mystical powers. Accompanied by words, gestures, dances, etc. Sacrifice, it also interferes with enlightenment outside the mundane sight. Velvet matte patina. erosion, potato chips. The appearance of these masks, usually coated with kaolin (white evokes ancestors), in the middle of the night, may cause fear. Ngil males used this type of mask A society that no longer exists today. This secret society is responsible for empowerment and opposes empowerment witchcraft. ngil, a ritual of purifying fire symbolized by a gorilla and a guarantor of peace Determine the season, place and conditions for building the village Development of agricultural land. The area inhabited by the Fang people is from Yaouin in Cameroon to Ogué in Cameroon Gabon has never had a political entity. Maintain clan cohesion through religious and judicial measures Associations like so and ngil."

The Baoule and Guro people of Ivory Coast carved various animal masks. With this mask Animaloid elements that accompany human masks in various ceremonies, including Funerals or when visiting senior guests nowadays. Dense wood with colored patina. drying crack. According to the Baule myth, a royal ancestor had to sacrifice his son to cross the river. This event is The origin of the name Baoulé, Bauli, "the son is dead". they represent the majority of the population from Côte d'Ivoire. In Côte d'Ivoire, the most common objects a priori must conform to aesthetics standard. Furniture, decorations, utensils, fabrics are some excuses for fine artistic expression sculptor. The latter, mainly farmers, also carry out this activity. Some of them also produce Play for neighboring nations. Yet creativity is still associated with mystical powers Craftsman, ritual requirements around woodworking.

Masked dancers wearing chimpanzee masks, hook sticks and voluminous full-body costumes have turned up at the Dankeran Village Dance Festival to provoke and "heat" audiences with wild jumps and vulgar jokes. The chimpanzee mask offered here is made of light balsa wood and dyed black. It shows the typical form of these "Kagle masks": a protruding, semicircular and flat forehead with a diagonal line at the edge and deep-set slit eyes below (here each has three holes for the previous metal frame), a broad nose between prominent cheekbones on either side, a large, open mouth with wide, pouting lips. Distinguishing features of this particular object are the three holes below the eyes, which were used for an early metal profile (now lost), the original white embossed band on the bridge of the nose, the red tongue with the open mouth, and the embossed band on the inside of the thick lips . There are also embossed decorations on the outside of the cheeks.