Bobo Chameleon Head Crest Burkina Faso

A unique Bobo Chameleon Head Crest crafted in Burkino Faso. Due to its physically mutating nature and adaptability, the Chameleon is a symbol of wisdom.

The Bobo people, skilled carvers from Burkina Faso, are known for creating intricate wooden sculptures and masks. Among their notable carvings is the sacred Dwo mask, believed to protect villages from evil spirits, and the Boli figure used in ancestral rituals. The Bobo, also called Bobo-Fing, live in eastern Burkina Faso and Mali, practicing agriculture with a council of elders governing their lives. Their religion centers around the god Wuro, creator of earth and animals, with Dwo serving as an intermediary. Masks play a crucial role in their tradition, symbolizing animals or spirits and used in ceremonies related to crops, initiations, and funerals. The sacredness of masks lies in the belief that divinity is present and acting through them. Purification rituals are performed to reconcile with nature, and their carvings represent forces of fertility and growth. In essence, the Bobo's woodcarvings showcase their rich cultural heritage and are integral to their traditional practices.

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