Mask "ntomo"

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Description

wood, partly encrusted patina, blue pigment remains, crowned by seven horns and a standing female figure, remains of resin-like mass, inset with cowrie snails, rep. (breakage at one horn), fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion, metal socle;
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”…

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Comparing literature

Colleyn, Jean Paul (Hg.), Bamana, Zürich 2001, p. 105, ill. 81

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