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Description

Yam mask made of tightly woven plant fibre around a stick frame with a large crest edged with feathers, a long, narrow, circular ridge as a nose, large bulbous eyes, and a small protruding oval mouth and tongue. The face of the mask is mostly an ochre red, while the lower portion around the mouth is black at the bottom with tan areas from the lower outside edge to the black. The nose is a tall ridge along the entire face down to the mouth, mostly red but with white along the edge and black in line with the face. The eyes are large white woven balls which protrude from either side of the nose ridge, with tan irises and small holes in the centre. The crest is roughly triangular with rounded edges rising to a point above the face, edged with soft white feathers with brown tips. The crest begins at the top of the face with a black triangle, outlined by widening stripes to create the shape of the crest. These stripes are: tan, then a red stripe made up of loops of basketry to create a fence-like appearance, then a white stripe, then a black stripe made of loops of basketry, and then a final tan stripe along the edge. The edge of the woven crest is tied with string to a stick that goes around the edge, the feathers are attached to the stick. The back and inside of the mask are unpainted plant fibre.

History Of Use

Yam masks such as this one are made exclusively for yams. They aren't worn by people.