Two carved wooden face masks, Bongase, 2019

Dr. Ann B. Stahl

Two carved wooden face masks, Bongase, 2019

Public Deposited

A man holds up for view two carved wooden masks during a 2019 interview with Ligbi elders in Bongase. These masks are used in masquerade dances to celebrate special occasions like weddings and public festivals such as the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. The mask on the left (13.25 inches in height) is a thrush (kokogyinaka in Ligbi). The mask on the right (9.75 inches in length) is a "beautiful Gonja woman" (gbanyamuso in Ligbi). Their features are highlighted by red, blue and white pigment. The gbanyamuso mask is also adorned by a red hair band. A baboon mask (mbong in Ligbi) lays on the table to the right. René Bravmann, an art historian, photographed these masks in 1967 during doctoral dissertation fieldwork. For additional details, see Bravmann, René A. (1974) "Islam and Tribal Art in West Africa" (Cambridge University Press), pp. 88-95. Scholars refer to this masking tradition as "Do" while locally it is termed "Bedu." The gbanyamuso mask (right) performed at a Banda Heritage Celebration held at the Banda Cultural Centre on 29 June, 2019. Bongase, 11 June, 2019.

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