Improving African Futures Using Lessons from the Past

Wooden face masks, Bongase, 1967


Description:
Two carved wooden masks which are worn during masquerade dances celebrating special occasions among Muslim Ligbi communities in the Banda area are displayed. The masks pictured here were photographed in 1967 by René A. Bravmann, then a doctoral student at Indiana University studying African art history. The mask pictured left (13.25 inches in length) represents a thrush (Kokogyinaka in Ligbi). The one on the right (9.75 inches in length) is a "beautiful Gonja woman" (Gbanyamuso in Ligbi). The masks are periodically renewed with pigments made from plants and earthen materials. This masking tradition is referred to by scholars as "Do" but it is referred to in Bongase as "Bedu." For additional details, see Bravmann, René A. (1974) "Islam and Tribal Art in West Africa" (Cambridge University Press), pp. 147-177. A 2019 performance of Gbanyamuso at a Banda Heritage Event can be viewed through a link below. Bongase, December, 1967.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17130 ; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19216
Location(s) Facet:
Bongase
Subjects:
Bedu; Do; Thrush
Subjects Facet:
Gonja (African people); Wood carvings; Masks; Ligbi language; Islam; Masquerades; Regalia
Identifier:
Negative 8a/9
Creator:
Dr. René A. Bravmann
Contributors:
Dr. René A. Bravmann
Date searchable:
1967
Date searchable:
1967-12
Genre:
Black-and-white negative
Genre Facet:
Black-and-white negative
Format:
Image
Location(s):
Bongase;8.238039, -2.276274
Date Digitized:
2019-09-20
People Facet:
Dr. René A. Bravmann
Commentary:
Negative scanned by Ann B. Stahl
Geographic Coordinates:
8.238039, -2.276274