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Night Bird Mask

Burkinabé

Artwork Details

Night Bird Mask
1900-1971
Burkinabé
wood and paint
47 x 10 x 7 15/16 in. (120.7 x 26.7 x 20.3 cm); ; ;
Museum Purchase assisted by the Friends of the Museum of Art
1971/2.41

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Description

During initiation ceremonies when Bwa youths are symbolically transformed into men, they are taught the meaning of the geometric patterns painted on various animal-shaped masks. Moral lessons and mythical family histories are encoded in these patterns. This owl plank mask is called DOYO.

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