Superb,African Mask,MOSSI,Animal,Mask,Antique,Mascara

Superb Old African Mask MOSSI Buffalo Animal Mask

Dimension

28"  x  17"  x  8"

Mid 20th Century

Age Cracks

Base is not Included

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 The Mossi use masks honor the spirits of the wilderness and control the forces of nature. Since they live in a region of dry savannas where harvests depend on rainfall, the Mossi organized a series of purification rituals in order to reconcile with nature. Since it is proper to make compensation for the errors of humankind, masks have the essential function of erasing evil and reinstating the God-given balance between sun, earth, and rain. They represent spirits from the wild bush areas surrounding the village, which may appear to humans as animals. Men and women encounter these spirits while hunting or gathering firewood and these spirits, which play an important role in the history of the lineage or clan, are honored by being represented by masks. Clan members will not kill or eat the flesh of the animal spirit, for when such an animal dies, a member of the clan will also die. The spirits protect the family from disease, accident and natural disaster, its crops from insects and drought, its women from infertility, and generally ensure success in life. Among the Mossi, the sacredness of the mask derives from the fact that the mysticism is considered to be present in the mask. On ritual occasions the groups which use these masks speak a secret language called suku which is completely unintelligible to other non-mask groups. Both men and women participate in mask rites, and one becomes a member of the mask groups by birth into one of the mask-using clans.

The Mossi are today the largest single group living in Burkina Faso. They originated from horsemen who made their way north from present day Ghana during the 1500's. The Mossi are renowned for their masquerades and the use of large superbly sculpted and brightly painted masks and colorful costumes or  vegetal fibers costumes . Mossi elders are honored with elaborate funerals and the appearance of masked dancers with masks representing ancestors, animals, various spirits, and forces of Nature in dramatic and often vigorous dances.This splendidly sculpted and brightly colored mask that is worn on the face and resting on the top of the head is supported by a web of cords woven through the sides of the mask at the back of the dancer' s head. Due to its size and height it requires great skill on the part of the wearer to keep it upright while being danced.The costume is made out of vegetal ruff.

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