{"product_id":"toussian-loniake-plank-mask-burkina-faso-155605","title":"Toussian Loniake Plank Mask Burkina Faso","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"146\" data-end=\"421\"\u003eThe \u003cem data-start=\"150\" data-end=\"159\"\u003eLoniake\u003c\/em\u003e (also spelled “Loniaken” or “Koniake”) is a traditional plank mask carved by the \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eTusyan (Toussian) people\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e of southwestern Burkina Faso, where it plays a central role in important community rites. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"423\" data-end=\"700\"\u003eThese masks are distinctive for their large, flat board-like form with an attached superstructure often representing a totemic bird — most commonly the hornbill, an animal revered for its symbolic connection to the spiritual world. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"702\" data-end=\"1000\"\u003eTraditionally carved from a single piece of wood, \u003cem data-start=\"752\" data-end=\"761\"\u003eLoniake\u003c\/em\u003e masks were painted with white kaolin pigment and often decorated with geometric designs or inlays such as red seed pods, which highlight features like eyes or patterning on the mask’s surface. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1002\" data-end=\"1502\"\u003eThese masks are not mere decorative objects — they have significant cultural functions. They are used in male initiation ceremonies, funerary rites, and other secret society festivities associated with the Do or Lo societies, which govern age-grade transitions and community spiritual life. Initiates adopted new names and totemic associations during these rites, and the masks embodied the ancestral spirits or animal identities linked with those names. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1504\" data-end=\"1847\"\u003eBecause these ceremonies occur infrequently — often once every few decades — genuine Loniake masks are comparatively rare in both Africa and the international art market. Today, they are admired as powerful examples of West African ritual art, combining bold geometric abstraction with spiritual symbolism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Polaris-Box\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_ActivatorWrapper_1ivxc_74\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"PRODUCT.metafields.custom.height_in_-anchor\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_ActivatorButton_1ivxc_78\" aria-label=\"Edit Height (In) metafield\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_LegacyRowWrapper_1ivxc_4\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_FormFieldLabelLegacy_1ivxc_38\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"Polaris-Text--root Polaris-Text--bodyMd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe bird's head does not fit tightly, so it is loose.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHeight (In) 25.0\u003cbr\u003eWidth (In) 14.0\u003cbr\u003eDepth (In) 8.0\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003e155605\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"sku 155000","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51491603611943,"sku":"155605","price":390.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/1015\/9911\/files\/IMG_0812_7cf34776-a2b4-498e-ac51-4384324295ab.jpg?v=1781287261","url":"https:\/\/africadirect.com\/products\/toussian-loniake-plank-mask-burkina-faso-155605","provider":"Africa Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}