Mask with Figure - Dogon - Mali - SOLD

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During the Dama, a final commemorative ceremony for a Dogon elder, hundreds of masked dancers perform, including several different animal forms. They link contemporary Dogon society with a mythical time and are used to counteract the negative effects of death. The masks are sacred and full of magic power. The legends and special features of each mask is handed down from generation to generation and is only available to the initiated members of the awa society. It is generally believed however, that animals of the bush all know the future and represent knowledge, power, and wisdom. The masked ritual ushers in a new existence for the deceased--that of the ancestor. 31"H x 7"W x 7"D