A man holds up for view a male and female pair of carved wooden baboon (Mbong in Ligbi) masks during a 2019 interview with Ligbi elders in Bongase. The male mask (left) has a reflective silver cloth attached. A pair of bush cow (Siginjuru-ayna in Ligbi) masks lays on the table behind. Masks such as these have been used in masquerade dances celebrating special occasions like weddings and public festivals, including the end of Ramadan, the annual month-long period of Muslim fasting. Scholars refer to this masking tradition as "Do," while locally it is termed "Bedu." These same masks were photographed in 1967 by René A. Bravmann during the course of doctoral dissertation fieldwork. For additional details, see Bravmann, René A. (1974) "Islam and Tribal Art in West Africa" (Cambridge University Press), pp. 147-177. The baboon masks pictured here were worn and photographed in 1995 when Ligbi people from Bongase brought the masquerade to the commissioning celebration for the Banda Cultural Centre. A June 2019 performance of Mbong at a Banda Heritage Event can be viewed through a link below. Bongase, 11 June, 2019.
A man holds up for view two carved wooden masks during a 2019 interview with Ligbi elders in Bongase. These masks are used in masquerade dances to celebrate special occasions like weddings and public festivals such as the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. The mask on the left (13.25 inches in height) is a thrush (Kokogyinaka in Ligbi). The mask on the right (9.75 inches in length) is a "beautiful Gonja woman" (Gbanyamuso in Ligbi). Their features are highlighted by red, blue and white pigment. The Gbanyamuso mask is also adorned by a red hair band. A baboon mask (Mbong in Ligbi) lays on the table to the right. René Bravmann, an art historian, photographed these masks in 1967 during doctoral dissertation fieldwork. For additional details, see Bravmann, René A. (1974) "Islam and Tribal Art in West Africa" (Cambridge University Press), pp. 88-95. Scholars refer to this masking tradition as "Do," while locally it is termed "Bedu." A June 2019 performance of Gbanyamuso (center) at a Banda Heritage Event can be viewed through a link below. Bongase, 11 June, 2019.
A man holds up for view a female (left) and male (right) pair of carved wooden bush cow (Siginjuru-ayna in Ligbi) masks during a 2019 interview with Ligbi elders in Bongase. Masks such as these have been used in masquerade dances to celebrate special occasions like weddings and public festivals including the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. The masks' features are highlighted by red, blue and white pigment. René A. Bravmann, an art historian, photographed the male bush cow mask in 1967 during doctoral dissertation fieldwork. For additional details, see Bravmann, René A. (1974) "Islam and Tribal Art in West Africa" (Cambridge University Press), pp. 147-177. Scholars refer to this masking tradition as "Do," while locally it is termed "Bedu." Bongase,11 June, 2019.
Standing on the edge of Bui Lake, northwest of Bongase. The lake waters rose behind Bui Dam after 2012, transforming local fishing practices. For generations local Ewe families used the type of canoe pictured here to fish on the Black Volta River. But these can only be used for near-shore fishing on Bui Lake because the lake's unpredictable winds and waves make them unsafe. Trees still stand in shallow waters along the lake's edge. Three photos. Bui Lake, near Bongase, 18 June, 2016.
The flood zone of the newly formed Bui Lake extended further south than anticipated when lake levels rose behind Bui Dam after 2012. A section of the Ahenkro-Bongase road was flooded and a bypass around the flood zone had to be built. Here, shallow waters (center) spread out across the low landscape east of the Banda hills visible in the background. View to the southwest. First of five photos in a south-to-north panorama. South of Bongase, 18 June, 2016.
The flood zone of the newly formed Bui Lake extended further south than anticipated when lake levels rose behind Bui Dam after 2012. Here, shallow waters (center) spread out across the low landscape east of Banda hills. Chuli (the notched section of the hills) is visible in the background. View to the west. Third of five photos in a south-to-north panorama. South of Bongase, 18 June, 2016.
The flood zone of the newly formed Bui Lake extended further south than anticipated when lake levels rose behind Bui Dam after 2012. Here, shallow waters (center) spread out across the low landscape east of Banda hills. Chuli (the notched section of the hills) is visible in the background. View to the west. Fourth of five photos in a south-to-north panorama. South of Bongase, 18 June, 2016.
The flood zone of the newly formed Bui Lake extended further south than anticipated when lake levels rose behind Bui Dam after 2012. Here, shallow waters (center) spread out across the low landscape east of Banda hills. Chuli (the notched section of the hills) is visible in the background. View to the northwest. Fifth of five photos in a south-to-north panorama. South of Bongase, 18 June, 2016.
The flood zone of the newly formed Bui Lake extended further south than anticipated when lake levels rose behind Bui Dam after 2012. Here, shallow waters (center) spread out across the low landscape east of Banda hills. Chuli (the notched section of the hills) is visible in the background. View to the southwest. Second of five photos in a south-to-north panorama. South of Bongase, 18 June, 2016.