Mask "ntomo" ·  Mali, Bamana · ID: 3032773

Description

wood, dark brown patina, of typical form, crowned by six vertically protruding horns, partly coated with resin-like mass with inset cowrie snails and abrus seeds (mainly missing), min. dam., slight traces of abrasion;
in Bamana society each member has to pass through six initiation levels during his life in order to achieve perfect wisdom. Present mask belongs to the first initiation level, “ntomo”, which is followed by “komo”, “nama”, “kono”, “tjiwara” and “kore”. When entering “ntomo” the young boys had to learn how to keep silent and how to suffer in silence. According their main song goes: “shut up, shut up, the spoken word is the enemy…”