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Mask (wan-balinga)
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Only the farmers among the Mossi people employ masks. This mask’s proper name, <em>wan-balinga</em>, evokes a mythical figure who was the mother of the first Mossi ruler. Such masks are most typically worn and danced with on the occasion of the funeral of a male or female elder as escorts of the corpse to the grave. They also appear during annual memorial services that occur months after the actual burial, when all the deceased clan members are commemorated and honored.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Mossi-style blacksmith-carver |
|---|---|
| Date | early 1900s |
| Culture / Origin | Africa, West Africa, Burkina Faso, Mossi-style blacksmith-carver |
| Medium | Wood and paint |
| Dimensions | Overall: 34 x 14 x 14 cm (13 3/8 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.) |
| Department | African Art |
| Type | Mask |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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