Senufo Kpeliye mask
Poro mask in African art
The social, economic and spiritual life of Senufo men is governed by an initiation society known as Poro. A Senufo man had to go through all the stages of initiatory society to be considered an accomplished man with a global awareness of ancestral teachings and traditions.
Each step of the initiation process is associated with masks including the kpeliye mask (which means “hopping face” or “dead face” depending on the dialects).
The kpeliye mask is worn at harvest time to thank the ancestors for a good harvest.
Considered female, dancers wearing the mask also dance during funeral celebrations to honor ancestors (alongside the more aggressive wanyugo masquerade) and the mask is believed to lead the spirit of the deceased away from their home to the ancestral realm.
Strong points of this mask: a superb state of conservation and many details: very present growths, ram's horns, an undeniable mastery of the sculptor, a top figure.
A Kpeliye mask was published on the cover of Die Kunst der Senufo, Elfenbeinküste.
To know more :
Cf. The Barbier-Mueller collections: 110 years of passion, 2017
Cf. Prime Arts of Côte d'Ivoire, A-M. Boyer, 1997
01422
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1940
- Size
- 38 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
- Condition
- Excellent
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Poro mask in African art
The social, economic and spiritual life of Senufo men is governed by an initiation society known as Poro. A Senufo man had to go through all the stages of initiatory society to be considered an accomplished man with a global awareness of ancestral teachings and traditions.
Each step of the initiation process is associated with masks including the kpeliye mask (which means “hopping face” or “dead face” depending on the dialects).
The kpeliye mask is worn at harvest time to thank the ancestors for a good harvest.
Considered female, dancers wearing the mask also dance during funeral celebrations to honor ancestors (alongside the more aggressive wanyugo masquerade) and the mask is believed to lead the spirit of the deceased away from their home to the ancestral realm.
Strong points of this mask: a superb state of conservation and many details: very present growths, ram's horns, an undeniable mastery of the sculptor, a top figure.
A Kpeliye mask was published on the cover of Die Kunst der Senufo, Elfenbeinküste.
To know more :
Cf. The Barbier-Mueller collections: 110 years of passion, 2017
Cf. Prime Arts of Côte d'Ivoire, A-M. Boyer, 1997