Guerisseur Mask

Item number 3420/20 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

The mask has a two sunken rectangular spaces within a raised rectangular border, raised jagged-edged nose, rectangular cutout eyes, and pointed ears. The mask is painted with orange-brown and red-brown. Extending up from the head between the ears are two long, slightly curved and spiraled ears or horns. A loosely woven plant fibre net is attached to the back.

History Of Use

The walu (antelope) mask is worn during a Dama ceremony of a deceased clan member that had participated in the Sigi ceremony. Dama ceremonies help escort nyama (spirits) to the afterlife and last six days. During the ceremony, the mask society performs in the village plaza and on the terrace of the deceased's home. The Sigi ceremony occurs every sixty years and is performed to commemorate the death of Lebe, the first ancestor to die. The dancer who wears the antelope mask often holds two short sticks, which are used to scratch the ground to represent antelope behavior during their mating displays. The walu masquerade dance at the Dama ceremony potentially tells the story of the walu's struggle and eventual death at the hands of yurugu (fox) while trying to protect the sun. The fight for the sun was the purpose for the walu's creation by Amma, the creator of the universe.