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46 1/2" Mossi Karenga Mask, Burkina Faso Plank Mask. Hand Carved from one large piece of wood and hand painted. Despite Muslim and Christian influence over the last few hundred years the peoples of the Burkina Faso continue to live their lives in their old traditional ways. This is a fairly old mask from the Mossi people acquired midcentury by 2 teachers who spent much of their time overseas mid 1900's. On their travels they focused on collecting older wood art objects among other things bringing pieces of the art and culture they spent time in back to the United States at the end of their journey. This mask is mid 1900's or older - perhaps much older. There is one very similar to this one in the Brooklyn Museum. Wikipedia has a very nice write up on this type of mask - "Masks occupy an important position in the religious life of the Nyonyose, the ancient farmers and spiritual segment of society among the Mossi people. The Nakomse (chief class) do not use masks. The use of masks in initiations and funerals is quite typical of all the Voltaic or Gur-speaking peoples, including the Nyonyose, Lela, Winiama, Nouna, Bwaba, and Dogon. Masks appear at burials to observe on behalf of the ancestors that proper burial procedures were carried out. They then appear at several funeral or memorial services held at regular intervals over the years after an elder has died. Masks attend to honor the deceased and to verify that the spirit of the deceased merits admission into the world of ancestors. Without a proper funeral the spirit remains near the home and causes trouble for his/her descendants. Masks are often carved of the wood of Ceiba pentandra, the faux kapokier. They are carved in three major styles that correspond to the styles of the ancient people who were conquered in 1500 by the invading Nakomse and integrated into a new Mossi society: In the north masks are vertical planks with a round concave or convex face. A mask at a funeral in the village of Kirsi in 1976. A black plastic child's doll has been added to the horns to create a karan wemba, to honor a female ancestor. In the southwest masks represent animals such as antelope, bush buffalo, and various strange creatures, are painted red, white and black. In the east, around Boulsa, masks have tall posts above the face to which fiber is attached." This mask is for its age in very good condition. Toward the top of the plank it appears that a section came off and they painted over it as can be seen in photos. Very nice piece of antique tribal art from Africa. Ancient Authentic
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