Mask

Item number Eh120 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Data
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Description

Mask depicting a humanoid face with protruding ears, high cheekbones, and a large nose with flared nostrils. The mouth is open with lips drawn back over eight upper and seven lower dark green-brown teeth, and there is no chin. The mask also has raised eyebrows and protruding eyes that each have a crescent-shaped slits beneath them. Three parallel shallow wavy grooves representing brow wrinkles run horizontally above the eyebrows. Hair ? is represented by ten red protrusions with curled ends. "Advisor" is written on the reverse, near the top corner.

History Of Use

Mask is named Amukku Sanni and is used in the Sanni healing ritual, which consists of dances and offerings under the direction of a healer. These rituals are designed to appease the demons causing various illnesses. This mask usually appears fifth in a series of eighteen.

Cultural Context

exorcism

Iconographic Meaning

Mouth open represents act of vomiting. Red in corners of mouth may indicate bleeding. Eyeballs looking in different directions symbolize facial paralysis; typical of Amukku Sanni.