Masque zoomorphe "angbai" ou "nyangbai" ·  Guinée, Toma · ID: 3053125

Description

wood, metal sheet,encrusted patina, base

The Loma, or Toma, live on both sides of the Liberia / Guinea border. The principal men’s initiation society throughout the area is the “poro” society.

The wooden “angbai” or “nyangbai” mask represents one of several incarnations of the Supreme Being “ngafui” or “afui”. The “angbai” customarily accompanies the young future initiates into the forest, the sacred and exclusive “poro” domain. On completion of the initiation rituals, the “angbai” then escorts the young men back to the village. The mask-wearer’s impressive costume is made of feline or monkey furs.

Littérature comparée

Carini, Vittorio, Artes Africanae, Quaderno 1, Le maschere dei Toma/ Loma, Udine 2009, p. 25 Carey, Neil, Masks of the Koranko Poro, Amherst 2007, p. 29, fig. 11

Publications

Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, Munich 2009, p. 378, Galerie Simonis, Simonis, Afrikanische Kunst, Düsseldorf, p. 4