Tribal Art

Blade masks in African art.

This mask is made up of two parts. On the one hand, an extremely stylized concave face that divides a crenellated ridge, and on the other hand, a high open blade. Geometric shapes encrusted with white pigment and red ochre are delicately sculpted on the surface. The board is associated with yaaba-soore , a path that the ancestors followed during the creation. The graphic signs symbolize the ritual imperatives required to enjoy divine favors.
It is not surprising to find this type of mask among the Mossi because this people is made up, in the north, by Dogon tribes with various types of blade masks. The mask sirige for example inspired the company wango which officiated with a derivative but similar version.
The masks mossi, personal or lignagers, are an embodiment of guardian spirits offering their support. They perform at funerals, at the funerals of clan leaders, protect the crops. Genuine altars without their costume, they can receive libations such as mil beer in order to honor the ancestors. Their appearance is now frequent during entertainment shows. Upper Volta, Burkina Faso since independence, is made up of descendants of the Invaders Nakomse, horsemen from Ghana, and the Tengabibisi, descendants of the natives. Among them, farmers and blacksmiths, saaba , used masks, wando, receptacles of the guardian spirits, which often represented the totem animals of the clan.