Helmet mask "essenie" oder "dugn'be" ·  Guinea-Bissau, Bidjogo · ID: 3043432

Description

wood, black, white and red paint, cow horns, green glass, animal skin, plant fibre, nails, bipartite, realistic head of a cattle risin, slightly dam., rep. (vertical crack/substructure), paint chipped off, base.
The cattle masks of the Bidyogo are referred to as “vaca bruto” in Creole. They were originally worn only for celebrations accompanying the admittance of young men and women into the age groups. “Dugn-be” represented domesticated cattle whereby “essenie” was the wild bull that fiercely raged and charged through the crowd during the performances and had to be tamed.

Comparing literature

Meynet, Denise & Michel, L'Art Colon, Lyon 2013, ill. p. 135 Eisenhofer, S. & I. Hahner-Herzog et. al., Mein Afrika - Die Sammlung Fritz Koenig, München, London, New York 2000, p. 142