Mask

Item number Eh128 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

Data
Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Mask depicting a humanoid face, painted dark green with a large red mouth that takes up roughly half the mask, and with large whitish teeth and curving fangs. High arched eyebrows with a lotus petal design protrude at the top, and the mask also has bulging white eyes with large black pupils that each have crescent-shaped slots beneath them. The nose is large with exaggerated open nostrils. A piece of string is attached at the back.

History Of Use

Mask is used in a Sanni or exorcism ceremony. It represents Slesma Sanni, one of the 18 demons who are companions of Maha-kola-sanni who was the son of a king. This king killed his wife, so his son vowed revenge. He did so by making 18 capsules with herbs in them, from which the Sanni demons were produced. These demons caused the death of the king when disease spread through his city. In order to placate disease-causing demons a healer invokes the demons in a ritual involving singing dancing, and offerings of food. Slesma causes mucous secretions from the mouth and anus, as well as anxiety and epileptic fits. Worn by Okressa devil dancer.