Designed as part of a Baule theatrical tradition, known as “Mblo,” that combines dramatic skits and solo dances, this mask is an idealized representation of the prominent member of the community for which it was sculpted.
Where did Baule Goli come from?
Goli is a traditional African dance and masquerade of the Baoulé people of the Ivory Coast. A single performance of a goli lasts an entire day. The goli originated among the Wan people, neighbours of the Baoulé.
What is Baule art?
THE BAULE PEOPLE In the arts, women make pottery; men carve wood, cast metal and weave cloth. Although only men wear masks, artworks are owned by women and men. Baule artists created one of Africa’s great art traditions.
Why is it called Ivory Coast?
There was also a Pepper Coast, also known as the “Grain Coast” (present-day Liberia), a “Gold Coast” (Ghana), and a “Slave Coast” (Togo, Benin and Nigeria). Like those, the name “Ivory Coast” reflected the major trade that occurred on that particular stretch of the coast: the export of ivory.
What are Baule masks made from?
Thishighly decorative Baule dance mask from Ivory Coast is hand-carved from wood with a rich glossy patina. A Hornbill bird; known as “Calao”, is perched on top the the mask. The Baule are part of the Akan people of Côte D’ivoire, also famous for the Goli mask.
What are biombo masks used for?
African Masks – Biombo A triangular checkerboard design is used to decorate the eyebrows and the planes of the face. The three forms at the back of the head represent the Biombo hairstyle. Feathers are often attached to the top of Biombo masks. Biombo masks are usually worn during tribal rituals and ceremonies.
What are Bwa masks used for?
The masks are commissioned and owned by large, extended families, or clans. The masks are used on several occasions throughout the year, including initiations, burials, annual renewal rites associated with planting and harvesting, and ceremonies celebrating the consecration of a new mask.
