Antelope mask "walu" ·  Mali, Dogon · ID: 3033250

Description

wood, matt patina, remains of polychrome paint, painted with diamond-shaped ornaments, nail on the forehead, pierced around the rim, min. dam., traces of abrasion;
the mask reminds of the mythic antelope “walu”, which was engaged by the creator god “amma” to protect the sun from the fox “yurugu”. To take revenge for his vain effort the fox digged holes in the ground, so that the antelope fell and died. The dance of the mask “walu” should remind of this mythical occurrence. The mask appears during the “dama” commemorative ceremonies which take place every five years together with hundreds of masked dancers.