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Zoomorphic mask

Tousian – Senme - Bwaba People20th century

Mudec - Museum of Cultures

Mudec - Museum of Cultures
Milan, Italy

This kind of mask is associated with the Do (Lo) male initiation cult. The initiation ritual requires boys to spend a period alone in the forest to acquire the technical and symbolic knowledge tied to spirit masks and assume the name of the animal that most matches their personality. In the hierarchy of animal spirits, the lowest place corresponds to the heron and the highest to the buffalo, symbol of leadership and prestige.

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  • Title: Zoomorphic mask
  • Creator: Tousian – Senme - Bwaba People
  • Date Created: 20th century
  • Location Created: Burkina Faso, Orodara area
  • Physical Dimensions: h 80 cm
  • Type: Mask
  • Rights: Franco and Laura Monti Collection (6) - Museum of Cultures, Milan
  • Medium: Carved wood, pigments, abrus seeds
  • Collocazione: On view (room 3)
Mudec - Museum of Cultures

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