Mask "wan-zega" ("red mask") ·  Burkina Faso, Region Boulsa, eastern Mossi · ID: 3050040

Description

wood, pigments, base

Mossi in the far eastern area near Boulsa and Zeguedeguin use sets of three masks: a male, the “wan-zega” or red mask; a female, the “wan-sablaga” or black mask and the protective dwarf spirit mask, “yali”.

“Wan-zega” behaves aggressively, chasing spectators and using whips liberally to keep crowds back from the performance area. “Wan-zega” appears at funeral ceremonies.

The object Mask “wan-zega” (“red mask”) with the object ID 3050040 was part of the auction 101st Auction on November 11, 2023. The object with the lot number 207 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,500 with an asking price of EUR 1,200.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Roy, Christopher D., Land of the flying masks, München 2007, p. 405, ill. 114 und p. 57, fig. 19