Mask Item Number: K2.198 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Brown wood mask with five horns on the crown. Has square cut out eyes with upraised and incised brows above, a thin, deep nose, and an open mouth. Has ears. Along the hairline, there is a double incised zig zag line. Hair has nine vertical ridges with a zig zag along their middles.
History Of Use
Androgynous N'tomo, or N'domo, mask from the N'tomo society, a Bamana initiation society dedicated to boys six to twelve. Prior to being initiated the boys would be expected to learn koré, which is N'tomo knowledge, history and discipline, and then during the rite of passage demonstrate the knowledge. The rite of passage, to enter the ton- the male population between twelve to thirty-five, was a circumcision ceremony. The ceremony would be led by the Chief N'domo, who wore the N’domadyiri mask, which was said to represent their god; initiates would wear their N'tomo masks during the ritual. The time between these ceremonies could be as long as seven years. The N'tomo masks would either have small mouths or none, showing that silence, keeping secrets, and controlling one's speech are important values. The mask wearer would wear a cloth around their waist, and walk through his village and enter their family compound, announcing the start of a puppet masquerade and the yearly festival, checko.
Specific Techniques
N’tomo masks are carved using m’peku wood, which grows around Bamana villages. To harvest the wood, cowrie shells are often given to trees as offerings to the spirit Nyama, which exists in all living natural things; the spirit will also live in the wood of the mask. Afterwards, the mask is coated in oil to protect it.
Iconographic Meaning
Each mask represents a Bamana ancestral spirit and the wearer is to represent that spirit respectfully and accurately; failure to do so can lead to punishment. The length of prongs on the mask represents the wisdom of the spirit and wearer; the longer the prong, the wiser they are. The size of the forehead indicates the size of intelligence of the spirit and wearer. The number of horns along the top of the mask indicates the gender of the dancer's role. While only boys take part in these performances, they can perform any gender. Males are represented by three or six horns while females are represented by four or eight horns. Androgyny is represented by two, five, or seven horns. The prongs themselves represent the eight primordial seeds used by their god to create the universe.
Item History
- Made in Mali
- Collected during 1964
- Owned by Abi Jones before 1965
- Received from Abi Jones (Seller) and Walter C. Koerner (Funding source) during 1965
What
Who
- Culture
- Bamana
- Previous Owner
- Abi Jones
- Received from
- Abi Jones (Seller) and Walter C. Koerner (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Mali
When
- Collection Date
- during 1964
- Ownership Date
- before 1965
- Acquisition Date
- during 1965
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 98
- Accession Number
- 0109/0004