A Bozo Ntomo mask with five horns, glassmirrors as eyes, on the cheeks and on the lower jaw, small reddish pearls on the fascial plane and partly on the forehead, a protruding slitmouth, beneath a hooknose, two smaller hornson top of the head; cowrie shells, wood and fabric.

"The Bamana (Bozo) Ntomo masks were worn by boys as they passed through the early cycle of initiation into manhood. The masks reinforce the lessons the 
boys are taught as they are prepared by elder males in the society for circumcision. There are two main style groups of their masks. One is characterized by an oval face with four to ten horns in a row on top like a comb, often covered with cowries or dried red berries. The other type has a ridged nose, a protruding mouth, a superstructure of vertical horns, in the middle of which or in front of which is a standing figure or an animal. The ntomo masks with thin mouths underscore the virtue of silence and the importance of controlling one’s speech. During their time in ntomo the boys learn to accept discipline. They do not yet have access to the secret knowledge related to korè and other initiation societies. Members wore a wooden face mask during the initiation festival at harvest time and when begging for rice.

600 - 800,- Euro

Height: 57 cm
Weight: 1,3 kg