Hyaena mask "suruku" · Mali, Bamana · ID: 3032864
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany
Description
wood, dark brown patina, partly decorated with metal sheet and tags, small bells, of angular form with a prominent nose, small projection above the forehead containing the life-giving energy “nyama”, incision backside: “BAMBARRA”, min. dam., minor missing parts, slight traces of abrasion;
the masks are looked upon as bearers of energy, and already during their making they receive blood sacrifices. During the performance the dancers take a crooked posture, leaning on short sticks, which optical lengthens their arms and imitates the bearing of a hyaena.
The object Hyaena mask “suruku” with the object ID 3032864 was last part of the auction 69th tribal art auction at June 2, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 126.
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Publications
Arnemann, Sepp, Heiter geht's weiter, Hamburg 1963, p. 164 (drawing)