Body mask of "poro" society ·  Guinea, Koranko · ID: 3043940

Description

wood, nassa snails, animal hair, mass, power materials, red cloth (signifyingin “poro”), base

Masks of the “poro” society incarnate bush spirits, called “nyenne”. They are affixed to the back of the masquerader in a vertical position and serve to visually distinguish between each grade in their “poro” hierarchy. Present mask represents a boys “poro” mask. This mask is present at the “birike”, the initiation ritual of young boys when they first enter the Sacred Bush.

Comparing literature

Carey, Neil, Masks of the Koranko Poro, Amherst 2007