Wabelé Waniugo mask

I.- Wabelé masks : They comprise five types of masks.

1.-  The Kponiugo or Waniugo group.

Waniugo or Kponiugo masks belong to the Wabelé group that includes five types of masks. They are voluminous, very thick, which gather the attributes of several animals: Huge mouth, with an important teeth representing the crocodile; big horns, which can be buffalo or antelopes and fangs of facocero, African boar.

Between the two big horns there is a representation of the chameleon or calao. The calao represents the Senufo people and is associated with the cult of fertility. The chameleon would indicate a cult to the primordial Universe and would be the first being created by God. In all senufo realizations there is allusion to their totemic animals. The representation of their primal animals is constant : The chameleon, the turtle, the snake pyton and the calao, its great bird. “Waniugo” represents Poro’s head. In it are associated the buffalo’s strength, the antelope’s wisdom, the facocero’s impetus, and the crocodile’s aggressiveness and power.

Wanyugo masks are worn during the funeral ceremonies of the Initiatic Society of the Pore to obtain the deceased's access to the kingdom of spirits. Their function is to protect the village from evil spirits and sorcery and to preserve the community from misfortune and disease. Orogeny of the "sacred forest", sanctuary of the ancestors and of the spirits of the jungle, this mask was always covered by an initiate, member of the secret society of the village. The Porea secret society of male initiation, very powerful, whose dignitaries speak a secret language, plays an essential role in the life of the community. Weave bonds of fraternity and assistance between members of the same age class and of the same degree. . Your masks Waniugo never go out alone, always in groups, at least ten. On the masks have been painted white spots with kaolin, meaning that the ritual has been placed under the sign of the panther. The mask itself Waniugo symbolizes the universe in its origins, created by the divine architect or Kulotiolo. In this universe are represented all animals and the panther occupies a prominent place.

In the big mask there is a small glass to which the Senufo call “wa“ This cup contains a magic substance that can keep witches and sorcerers away from the village and allows the removal of masks in proper conditions.

In some regions they are Waniugo In this case, it doesn't have buffalo horns. Often this mask is sculpted in relief a sinuous line, which is the symbol of the great python ShebaThis is an allusion to fertilizing water, a factor in life.

The mask Waniugo The informants say that you can sit without suffering any damage, on a brazier, ride a single jump on the roof of a house, or burn a sorcerer without burning her hut.

This double mask is a fire spitter. When they go out at night, they spit fire, for which they place a saucer with coals on the lower jaw on which they put a few pieces of plaster that the carrier blows when it starts to burn giving the impression that the mask spits fire, an impression enhanced by the fact that this exhibition takes place at night. If an uninitiated or a woman sees these masks they will be sentenced to pay a substantial fine