Large helmet mask "wabele ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3040032

Description

light wood, encrusted greyish brown patina, provided with buffalo horns, crocodile snout and warts of a wart hog, sacrificial traces (feathers, egg shells) and traces of libation, dam., encrusted surface, marked by old age, weathering and insect caused damage, rep. (projection on the head, lower jaw);
this mask type should evoke terror, which was achieved by mixing parts of the anatomy of various species. It belongs to the mask type “wabele”, which is always dangerous because of their ability to “strike”. This “striking” can be beneficial when “wabele” belongs to the “poro”, or damaging, in the case of “wabele” belonging to the mostly anonymous secret societies that use them as instruments of sorcery.

Comparing literature

Barbier, Jean Paul (ed.), Art of Côte d' Ivoire, Vol II, Genève 1993, p. 19 f.