A Bwa Buffalo Mask of hollowed form, Burkina Faso, based on a concave panel with flat stylized horns on top, decorated with linear pattern, the animal-face with a ridge of metal tags in the middle framed by oval eyes, pierced through; different layers of pigments are verifying a long time of ritual use.

The Bwa of Mali and Burkina Faso are surrounded by the Bamana in north, the Bobo in the west, the Marka in the east and the Gurunsi and Lobi in the south. Each Bwa village is directed by a council of elders. Socially the Bwa are divided into three endogamous professional classes or castes: farmers, blacksmiths and griots (musicians who recount historical information through song.) The spiritual life of the Bwa is based on worship devoted to Do and the founding ancestors. Do intervenes at the time of agrarian rituals and funerals. Do represents the life force of the forest, plant life and the fields. The Bwa people are responsible for creating beautiful long horizontal masks of butterflies, hawks, owls and large circular masks with colorful geometric designs that alludes to the sun. This mask is worn in front of the dancers face and held in place with a thick rope by the wearers teeth. It is used during agricultural festivities.

400 - 600,- Euro

Height: 46 cm