Loniaken Mask – Wood, Raphia – Toussian – Burkina Faso

The TOUSSIAN live in the Southwest of Burkina Faso. The mask presented here is a Loniaken mask related to the cult of the Lo or of the Do (funerary rites): it also has an initiatory function.
In order to be eligible for marriage, the TOUSSIAN had to accomplish all the initiation stages and had to be re-baptised: names of animals or birds were given to the initiates. The Loniaken masks were carved according to each new name: in this case it is a bird.
This mask is above all a board-mask: it is a rectangular mask surmounted by a superstructure (in this case it is the head of a bird). Good condition with traces of wear and tear. The plank mask is covered with raphia.

Provenance: former private collection from the Netherlands.

Object:	Plank Mask
Ethnic group:	Toussian
Country:	Burkina Faso
Material:	Wood, Raphia
Period:	Mid 20th century
Sold with stand:	No
Dimensions:	72x43x17 cm
Weight:	2400 gram
Condition:	Good condition, used with some signs of wear