Helmet mask "kponyugo" ("Head of the poro") ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3049486

Description

wood, pigments, rest.

“Kponyugo” masks always combine features of different animals with the intention of creating the most frightening appearance possible. The large mouth, always armed with strong teeth, is intended to reinforce this impression.

“Kponyugo” are worn by members of the “poro” society and other fraternal associations. They appear at funerals of society members, to punish lawbreakers or deter malevolent spirits.

Due to the aggressive and combative nature of the helmet masks and their performances, women and children are enjoined to avoid seeing them, a stricture honored due to the costly consequences that transgressions precipitate.

The object Helmet mask “kponyugo” (“Head of the poro”) with the object ID 3049486 was last part of the auction 99th Auction at November 12, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 248.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Förster, Till, Die Kunst der Senufo aus Schweizer Sammlungen, Zürich 1988, p. 65