Mask Walu Dogon - Dogon - Mali

During the dama, the final commemorative ceremony for an important Dogon elder, masked dancers perform a splendid, colorful display of sculpture, costumes, singing and dance.

By mimicking the behavior of their mythical ancestors, the Dogon aim to restore order in their world after the disturbance caused by death.

Gazelle masks, one of the most popular Dogon masks, are admired by the Dogon for their beauty and the power of the performance. The dancer holds two short sticks with which he scratches along the ground, imitating the behavior of gazelles during their mating rituals.

Traditionally Dogon masks are managed by the Awa community, a group of predominantly male initiates. They perform the public rites that ensure the transition of the dead to the spirit world.