Mask "kanaga" ·  Mali, Dogon · ID: 3034792

Description

light wood, polychrome paint, crowned by a superstructure in the form of a double cross, bonnet made from plant fibres at the back, pierced around the rim, rep. (superstructure), cracks, small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion;
the “kanaga” mask can be interpreted in different ways: crocodile, creator genius, but also “bird in flight”. According to the latter interpretation it represents the bird “kommolo tebu” with spread wings and black and white plumage, when after its shooting the hunter carved the first “kanaga”.

Comparing literature

Homberger, Lorenz (Hg.), Die Kunst der Dogon, Zürich 1995, p. 124