Mask - Mali (No reserve price)

Kanaga Mask

Dogon Kanaga Mask

During funeral rites, members of the Awa society dance wearing masks on the roof of the deceased's house. This practice aims to guide the soul (nyama) to the afterlife while protecting the living from nefarious influences. The Kanaga mask is also used by hunters, as it is believed to shield them from the spiritual vengeance of the killed animal.

Recognizable by its characteristic shape, the Kanaga mask consists of a central vertical board topped by two pairs of horizontal bars fixed by leather straps, whose ends are directed upward and downward. On the occasion of funerals or mourning-levelling ceremonies, many Kanaga masks, almost identical, appear on the dance area after traversing the village lanes. Their meaning varies according to the level of initiation of those who observe them. For some, they represent the Komolo bird; for initiates, they symbolize the Creator, whose gestures connect heaven and earth. The dancers who wear them perform spectacular and codified movements, illustrating the link between the world.