Zoomorphic mask "bolu" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Guro · ID: 3036837

Description

light brown wood, matt patina, remains of polychrome paint, of elongated form, slanting eyes flanking a raised nose ridge, short tusks and curved trunk, pierced around the rim, rep. (breakage right ear), traces of insect caused damage, cracks, traces of abrasion, base;
belonging to the “dye” mask ensemble, whose meaning is not entirely settled until today. The animal masks “bohi” the goat, “glo”, “zuin” and “kla” three different types of antelopes, “bolu” the hippo, “bi” the elephant, “blin” the dog and “du” the buffalo appear at the beginning of the masquerade forming a kind of advance guard. They are said to prepare the place for dancing.

Comparing literature

Fischer, Eberhard, Guro, Masks, München, Berlin, London, New York 2008, p. 124, ill. 101