Dimensions: H:31.5" W:29.5" L:5.5" Weight: 22.0 lbs.
Senufo Mask carved by Senufo people in Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) - Senufo masks are usually made up of animal and human features combined into one design. The Poro society, a male organization that educates young men in the traditions and responsibilities necessary for their coming of age. This society is led by a female ancestral spirit known as the Ancient Mother, who is said to wield so much power that she must be approached with caution and the help of lesser gods. These masks are used during the initiation of young men.
About the Tribe
Senufo also spelled Senoufo, a group of closely related peoples residing primarily in the savannah regions in the Northern part of the Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). They are also found in South-Eastern Mali and in Burkina Faso. They speak at least four distinct languages (Palaka, Dyimini, and Senari in Côte d’Ivoire and Suppire in Mali), which belong to the Gur branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Within each group, numerous subdivisions use their own names for the people and language; the name Senufo is of external origin.