Big board mask "karanga" ·  Burkina Faso, Mossi · ID: 3042088

Description

light wood, polychrome paint, face divided by raised nose ridge, crowned by high-towering board-shaped superstructure with breakthroughs, rep. (breakage), traces of insect caused damage, abrasion of paint, small missing parts, cracks, base;
the “karansé” masks (sing. “karanga”) are additional fixed by a dowel, which is inserted through the sides of the mask and is gripped between the dancers teeth. The simple costume consists of shirt and trousers, with a belt of raphia fibres wrapped around. Within the old realm of Yatenga, around Ouahigouya, the masks face is formed concave, the raised ridge dividing the face in two halves can be found there too. It may be assumed that there is an historical context between these „karansé“ masks and the very similar stelae masks of the Dogon, their direct neighbours in the northwest.

Comparing literature

Roy, Christopher, Art of the Upper Volta Rivers, Paris 1987, p. 115 ff.

Publications

AHDRC: 0006974