Origin: Burkina Faso, Bobo Fing ethnic group

Dating: 2nd half of the 20^th century

Signature: MŻo/A/3592

Description:

Bobo Fing people, like their neighbours (the Bwa, Nuna, Nunuma and Winiama peoples), adorn their masks with geometric patterns. Although their masks appear similar, Bobo Fing people are not closely related to these groups. There are many types of zoomorphic masks, characterized by elongated face shapes in which only the nose and brow bones are strongly defined and emphasized. Black Bobo also carve masks depicting animals - bulls, crocodiles, chameleons, butterflies. These types of masks are used to celebrate many important events in the village, including funerals, initiation, and to ensure good rainfall and a fruitful harvest. Mask dances erase human evil, restore connection and balance with the sun, rain and earth. Masks typically depict protective bush spirits such as warthog, buffalo, fish, antelope, snake, or hawk. All such masks embody the spirits of fertility and growth. The person wearing the mask is believed to embody the holy spirit in the ceremony.

The purchase of the masks collection was subsidized by the National Institute for Museums and Public Collections.

Literature:

[https://www.maskmuseum.org/mask/bobofing-antelope-1/, access: 24.11.2020].
Bodrogi Tibor, 1968, Sztuka Afryki, Wrocław: Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich – Wydawnictwo.
Delange Jacqueline, 1967, Arts et peuples de l’Afrique noire, Paris: Éditions Gallimard.