Bobo Bird Mask Burkina Faso
Width: 10.0
Depth: 8.0
Description
Lots of eye-catching, bold, geometric details on this Bobo mask.
The Bobo people, residing in eastern Burkina Faso and Mali, are skilled carvers known for creating intricate wooden sculptures, masks, and artifacts. Among their notable carvings are the sacred Dwo mask, believed to protect villages from evil spirits, and the Boli figure used in rituals to honor ancestors. The Bobo's lives are governed by a council of elders, rejecting the idea of a chief. Their God, Wuro, is credited with creating the world from mud. Dwo, his son, is venerated, with blacksmiths serving as priests. Masks play a crucial role in purification rituals, symbolizing animals or spirits, and are worn during ceremonies related to crops, initiations, and funerals. The sacredness of the masks lies in the belief that the divinity is present in them, and the wearer depersonalizes to let the mask act. The Bobo's carvings showcase their cultural richness and traditions in Burkina Faso.
Height (In): 31.0
Width (In): 10.0
Depth (In): 8.0
148017
Approximate Age: 20th Century
People: Bobo
Country of Origin: Burkina Faso
Material
Condition
Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.