Facial Mask

It is a male mask. Male masks, mainly war masks, are difficult to differentiate from the masks of their neighbours the Krus of Ivory Coast. Made on an elongated board. They usually have an elongated nose between one or two pairs of tubular eyes. In some cases they can present up to five or six pairs of tubular eyes and are the embodiment of an ancestor, this privileged vision allows them to search all the hidden aspects of life and the world. Often provided with a raffia beard and hair formed by painted feathers, local gallinaceae, or other birds. Some masks wear more or less torn eyes and low-eyed tubular projections. Its polychrome alternates the colors red, blue and white on black background.

Their masks can only be worn by initiates. They represent the ancestors and spirits of nature. Although initially they were masks of war they participated in funerals and today also in playful acts.

Some of these masks are surveillance masks. In them, the eye bumps dominate as eyes, in number of six, precisely the eyes that are to monitor their entire environment. During the ceremonies they are responsible for monitoring that no outsiders or undesirable people are present in the village.

This mask features an elongated nose with six pairs of eyes on the sides, and an open mouth with protruding lips in an attitude of speaking. White and blue polychrome, based on kaolin and indigo.