Mask "karanga"
Description
wood, matt patina, polychrome paint, an oval facial plane, divided by a raised nose ridge, crowned by a small antelope head and high board-shaped appendage, rep. (breakage snout and right horn), cracks, traces of abrasion, base;
the “karansé” masks (sing. “karanga”) are additional fixed by a dowel, which is inserted through the sides of the mask and is gripped between the dancers teeth. The simple costume consists of shirt and trousers, with a belt of raphia fibres wrapped around. Within the old realm of Yatenga, around Ouahigouya, the masks face is formed concave, the raised ridge dividing the face in two halves can be found there too. It may be assumed that there is an historical context between these „karansé“ masks and the very similar stelae masks of the Dogon, their direct neighbours in the northwest.