A Marka iron mask, Burkina Faso. Rusted patina; Signs of ritual use and age. Incl stand. Marka masks are significant ritual objects within the cultural traditions of the Marka people, also known as Dafing, who inhabit regions of western Burkina Faso and eastern Mali. Marka masking practices reflect a synthesis of indigenous beliefs and influences from neighboring groups such as the Bwa and Bobo, resulting in a visual language that emphasizes abstraction, moral instruction, and communal cohesion. Within Marka society, masks function as mediators between the human and spiritual realms, activated during key moments of social transition and ritual obligation. Typically carved from wood, Marka masks often take the form of plank or face masks characterized by strong geometric patterns and bold graphic surfaces. Designs commonly include linear motifs, checkerboards, and contrasting color fields, frequently rendered in black, white, red, and earthy pigments. These visual elements are not decorative alone but symbolic, referring to concepts such as order and disorder, knowledge and ignorance, and the structuring principles of the cosmos. The mask’s flatness and abstraction shift attention away from individual identity toward collective meaning and spiritual presence. In performance, Marka masks are worn with full-body fiber or cloth costumes that conceal the wearer entirely, reinforcing the idea that the masked figure is no longer human but a manifestation of a spiritual force. These masquerades appear during funerals, initiation rites, agricultural ceremonies, and other events central to communal life. Movement, rhythm, and coordinated group performance are essential to the mask’s efficacy, transforming carved form into a living expression of social memory and moral law. Spiritually, Marka masks are associated with powerful forces that oversee social order and continuity. They are believed to embody or channel non-human entities that guide the community, enforce ethical norms, and ensure balance between the natural and supernatural worlds. Access to masking knowledge and performance is often restricted to initiated members, underscoring the mask’s role as a repository of esoteric knowledge and collective authority. From an art historical perspective, Marka masks exemplify the emphasis on symbolism, abstraction, and performative context that characterizes many masking traditions of the western Sahel. Their visual restraint and graphic clarity have drawn attention for their modernist resonance, yet their meaning is inseparable from ritual use and communal understanding. When viewed in museum contexts, Marka masks reveal the sophistication with which form, color, and performance are mobilized to articulate social values, spiritual belief, and collective identity. References Christopher D. Roy, Land of the Flying Masks: Art and Culture in Burkina Faso. Susan Mullin Vogel, Art and Life in Africa. Jean-Paul Colleyn, Bamana, Senufo, Dogon: Arts and Societies of the Sahel. CAB29872 Height: 25 cm without stand