Okuyi mask

 

The Galoa they are established south of Lambarené, on the banks of the Ogoué River. Their masks called Okuyi or Okukwé, the name of the secret society to which they belong, are characterized by their special polychrome. Two lines that are cut forming triangles in the areas of the intersection and closing the triangles with the periphery of the mask in the form of circle arches. The opposite triangles have the same color, blacks the upper and lower and whites the sides. The black represents for the Galoa the darkness of darkness, evil, material, profane, visible things. It is obtained by crushing the charcoal and palm nut by dissolving them in palm oil. The white color means purity, the invisible, the spiritual world and is usually obtained with kaolin. The wearer of the Okuyi mask wears a raffia dress that protects him against the curses, on which is placed a gynecian skin, symbol of clairvoyance and protection and in the hand a palm branch, symbol of discipline and power. The mask appears during the day in the square of the village and chases the women, even hitting them with the palm branch.

On behalf of Okukwé society, it carries out administrative and judicial functions and intervenes in twin birth ceremonies and funeral rites.