NIMBA SHOULDER MASK 26" tall (66 cm) 15" long (38cm) 9" wide (23cm) Baga tribal art. weighs over 15 pounds

During important harvest festivals, weddings, funerals and celebrations to honour village guests and ancestors, a d'mba (also called nimba or yamban; meaning 'the universal mother') headdress is carried on the shoulders of a skilled male performer and danced through the village.

Said to be a symbol of maturity, fertility and femininity, d'mba performances are used to demonstrate community ideals of purity and social behaviour and also to ensure the future fertility and prosperity of women, the land and the community at large.

The mask is sculpted from a single piece of hardwood and is one of the heaviest masks from Africa. Pablo Picasso was inspired by and even bought a Nimba Sculpture of his own in 1928. Nimba masks were used for ceremonial dances.Raffia Skirt would be used to hide the dancer.

minor wear from applied hammered bronze sheets 2ith scorpion lizard turtle & snake motifsvsome shell & string remain flat rate domestic shipping Shipped with USPS Priority Mail combined shipping available SEE MY MANY OTHER VINTAGE UNIQUE AND ANTIQUE LISTINGS INCLUDING MANY tribal artifacts and decorative pieces