Masque zoomorphe "ntomo" ·  Mali, Bamana · ID: 3043531

Description

wood, sacrificial traces, base

The “ntomo” is an initiation society for children. The “ntomo” starts with the beginning of the harvest season in november. In the subsequent dry season the novices visit the surrounding villages begging for alms and food. This is where the mask of “ntomo” frequently appears. The unobstrusive mouth part of the mask emphasizes the central message of the “ntomo”, namely the value of silence and the art of speaking deliberately.