Among the Bwa, a division of the Bobo, masks featuring carved wooden animal heads and flamboyant raffia bodies embodied the powerful forces of snakes, crocodiles, chameleons, bulls, and antelopes. Blacksmiths are responsible for the making of the mask.

The Bobo use masks in three major contexts: masks appear at harvest time in annual rites called birewa dâga. Masks participate in the male initiation, named yele dâga, which is their major function.

The Bwa make two different types of masks. The first type is made out of wild plant leaves, to represent nature and wilderness. The second type is made out of wood to represent multiple spirits who protect them.

The Bwa are well known for their use of traditional tribal masks. [4] There are several types of masks produced by the Bwa that are used in traditional rituals. In particular the Southern Bwa are known for their tall plank masks, known as nwantantay, and …

The imagery found in masks of the Bobo, Bwa, Kurumba, Mossi, and others living in Burkina Faso commonly combine the stylized features of humans, animals, and even insects. Bold geometric shapes repeated in brightly painted designs enliven the surfaces of these relatively abstract forms.

The tradition of carving and performing wooden masks is a recent one among the southern Bwa, adopted within the past hundred years from the neighboring Nunuma and Winiama peoples. Previously, the Bwa had created masks of leaves, vines, and grasses for use in ceremonies honoring Do, the earthly representative of the creator god.

The Bwa or Bobo produce several different kinds of masks, including leaf masks dedicated to the god named Dwo, and wooden masks such as those dedicated to the God Lanle. The wooden masks often represent animals, this being that of a bird represents the spirit Lanle.

Nov 6, 2024 · These masks, with their distinctive planar forms, geometric designs, and often imposing size, play a vital role in Bwa rituals, ceremonies, and social life. They represent spirits, embody ancestral wisdom, and connect the present with the rich tapestry of Bwa history.

The leaf masks of the Bwa are considered to be the most sacred as they embody Dwo, son of the creator god, and enable a direct communication with the god. These masks can restore the balance of the land that is destroyed by cultivation.

Jul 30, 2017 · Wishing to control these forces and enlist their help against the powers of destruction, the Bwa create masks that make the spirits visible and are thus open to communication. What we have here is a Nunuma, one of the smaller and less complex masks of the Bwa people.