Numbe-Tonkongba mask

Great affinities and similarities with the Baga and the Nalu They live on the Boké Plateau, in the Kakandé, where they would have arrived around the year. 1800. In the so-called Maritime Guinea. (Guinea Conakry and Guinea Bissao)

Most of the works in this region of maritime Guinea have been attributed to the Bagaas the best known in the area, even though in many cases these objects were the work of the Nalu, Landuma Pukur or Bulinits.

The term Landuman would come from the English expression “lands-man”, men of the land, referring to the interior of the land as opposed to the coastal maritime zone.

There is a great confusion between the “numbe” masks and the “tonkongba”, which are actually the same mask, the Landuma the "numbe" and "tonkongba" the Baga. These masks were formerly attributed to Landumabut now it is known that they come from the north of Baga. It is an important cult mask, in which some see a stylized Atlantic dolphin, since this marine mammal was considered sacred by the Baga. Their ceremonies sometimes involve sacrifices, for example, on the occasion of funerals.

This mask, which belonged to the old society "simo" and was considered omniscient and protective of the community. The secret society Simo had a deep knowledge of plants to cure certain diseases and also practiced land fertility rites. According to an eyewitness this mask has the power to go through the fire. The masks are kept in a special house near the village. There are very few in-depth studies on these coastal populations.

This mask has three spikes on the top plate.