Bwa or Nunuma ram mask, Burkina Faso
15" from nose to back of horns x 11" wide
wood, pigment
$75 - INQUIRE
Animal motifs are common among the Bwa and Nunuma of Burkina Faso, they represented the spirits of the wilderness. Traditionally, masks such
as this were danced at various ceremonies, including the end of certain initiations and at the funerals of notables and certian harvest festivals.
Examples of Bwa masks in costume can be seen in the following link: http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/Burkina_mask_catalogue/index.htm
A great online resource on the masks of Bwa and related peoples:
http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/Art%20of%20Burkina%20Faso.html#Bwafunction
Despite its appearance, I believe this object was made specifically for the collecting market.
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