Bovido Dungbe Mask

The marine masks of the Bidjogos and the terrestrial animals are well known and the most numerous are the bovid masks. The Bovids were introduced by the Portuguese at the end of the century XV in Guinea Bissao, so the relationship of these animals with the Bidjogo dates back to already remote times.

They have four types of bovid masks: The GNOPARA female mask representing the sacred cow, is the symbol of fertility and corresponds to the first and second class of age, kañoka and kalo; the male mask DUGN’BE representing the domestic ox and wearing a triangle, apparently a sacred symbol, at the top of the forehead corresponds to the third class of age, kabidu. One of the most well-known masks is the ESSENIÉ bull mask which in vernacular means “brute cow”, represents a wild bull and is used mainly in Formosa and Uno, and finally the IARE canoe mask which is a large bovid mask which is placed on the bow of the canoes and which also carries the triangle on the forehead, corresponds to the young people who are going to enter the last and fourth phase of the initiation, usuka.

All of these masks wear genuine bovid horns, most of them have glass eyes and the tongue, red, pointing upwards. Large ringed neck into which the head of the carrier is inserted. Some bull or ox masks wear a thick rope through the holes in the nose.

These masks are used mainly during the male initiation or Manratche in which the young Bidjogo receive the teachings that will allow them access to adult society. It is a hierarchical initiation based on age classes, in which they learn to honor nature and to know wildlife. Each mask corresponds to an age class and indicates the different phases of initiation. For the first time the group cabaroo wears the masks of bull and dance, on all fours, imitating the aggressive movements of the animal and scratching the ground with the horns. They are heavy masks and their carriers are vigorous young people because this group understands young people who have already passed adolescence and who remain in the group for ten years. In initiation they celebrate the, memory of ancestors. Masks are also manifested in important festivities such as agricultural or commemorative festivals and are currently featured on visits by important characters.

This very expressive male mask features a row of four white teeth that can be seen in an open mouth that stands out in a large red nose, of the same color as the contour of the eyes and the inside of the ears. The triangulate of the forehead, white, like teeth and the base of horns. The rest, nigga.