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Senufo Wambele Funeral Masks

Carol Beckwith1994

African Ceremonies

African Ceremonies
Friday Harbor, United States

Janus-headed Wambele masks roam about a burial ground. They are complex hybrids, incorporating features borrowed from many creatures such as the tusks of warthogs and teeth from crocodiles. Decorated with feathers and porcupine-quill clusters, the Wambele appear at Senufo funerary rituals to chase away any lingering spirits that could bring misfortune to the village nearby.

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  • Title: Senufo Wambele Funeral Masks
  • Creator: Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher
  • Date: 1994
  • Location: Ivory Coast
  • Copyright: copyright Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher
African Ceremonies

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