Senoufo mask from Ivory Coast. Piece over 50 years old. Delivered on base.
The Sénoufos are essentially peasants who cultivate rice, millet, maize, yam, cassava and tea. The Senoufos are subdivided into several sub-groups: * the pongala in the sub-prefecture of kassere * the Niaraforos mainly in the department of Ferkessédougou * the Tchébaras in the department of Korhogo * the Tagbanas/Tagouanas in Katiola * the Nanfarans in the sub- prefectures of KARAKORO, NAPIE, KOMBORODOUGOU, etc. * the Fodonons (who dance the Boloï commonly called the panther dance) in Lataha, Kataha, Moroviné, Plagbo etc...) The Miniankas are considered to be related to the Sénoufos people. They are settled in the circles of Koutiala and San, in Mali. Senufo villages are governed by a council of elders. From the age of 7, the Sénoufos are initiated and educated. Senoufo theology is based on Koulotiolo, powerful god and Katielo, mother goddess. Initiatory societies, of which the poro is the most important, play a decisive role in the life of the Senoufos.
The manufacture of a mask among the Sénoufo, a people of northern Côte d'Ivoire, is not surrounded by mystery or the sacred. Making a mask, a stool, a mortar requires the sculptor the same type of attention. The mask is basically just a wooden object. It will only become sacred when it is danced in a liturgical context. To do this, you need the object mask, a costume, ornaments, attitudes specific to dance, the halo of mystery, power, occult knowledge that accompanies the mask. The mask will guide the Sénoufo man in all the initiatory phases of the Poro or during the funeral. Some masks also participate in public entertainment.