Object Details
- Label Text
- To become an adult in Bamana society, males must be initiated by the Kore society initiation. Initiation involves symbolic death and rebirth, a test of courage and the chance to acquire adult knowledge. Initiates are divided into groups, identified as hyenas, lions and monkeys. Each group is distinguished by a carved wooden mask that focuses and holds spiritual energy and receives sacrifices. Initiates wear the masks in performances at the end of inititiation.
- This mask has the long jaws and ears, but not the overhanging domed forehead, typical of the suruku, or hyena, mask of the Kore society. The projection between the ears, which is found on most suruku masks, represents the tuft of hair from a slain animal the hunter uses in ritual medicines.
- Description
- Wood face mask with concave face, wedge nose starting at top of the head, square snout ending in split jaws, upright long narrow pointed ears, small projection between ears, square cut out eyes and an overall dark surface.
- Provenance
- Samuel Rubin, New York, -- to 1979
- Exhibition History
- Artful Animals, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., July 1, 2009-July 25, 2010
- African Art in Color, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., May 17-October 9, 1983
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Maker
- Bamana artist
- Date
- Mid-20th century
- Credit Line
- Bequest of Samuel Rubin
- Medium
- Wood, plant fiber
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 36.2 x 16.5 x 14 cm (14 1/4 x 6 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.)
- Type
- Mask
