Sirige Floor Mask

It's one of the big dogon masks, known as the "story house." The facial part of this mask resembles that of the Kanaga mask. The floor masks are carved in a single tree and can reach about five meters. Its long wooden plank features several superimposed compartments, with artistic polychrome, representing the “story house” or “ginna”, home of the great family, the great mask that can reach ten meters high and that represents in turn the house of the clan founder of the village and that belongs to the Hogon, great priest of the Dogon.

Informers tell us that these masks are quite recent compared to bark masks. The wearer of these masks, in addition to having great physical strength, must be a true acrobat, for if he falls and the mask breaks, a misfortune can happen to him, to his dance society and to his ethnic group. The carriers are young adults and strong members of the Awa society, dressed in raffia fiber suits dyed in red or black. But the dancer whose wife is pregnant cannot wear red color, color of menstrual blood, because it would bring a misfortune to the mother and the child to be born.

These masks have magical powers. They are the largest after the Great Mask Mother of Masks, which is carved every sixty years, for the celebration of the Sigi. Along with the Satimbe and the Kanaga They are the most important dogon masks. They show respect and are surrounded by mystery. The dancers make sudden movements while shouting powerful screams, but without ever uttering a word. These three masks always dance together and the other masks, more interactive with the public, serve as accompaniment. Women must stay a certain distance.