Tribal Art

Ex-collection of Belgian African tribal art.
Old African entertainment mask made from dense wood, with a black patina. The headdress is made up of four braided shells extended by an excrescence. The face offers traditional scarifications called “ngole”. Height on base: 58 cm.
These portrait masks of the Baoulé, ndoma, frequently representing an idealized character, appear at the end of entertainment dance ceremonies. The latter are named, depending on the region, bedwo, ngblo, mblo, adjussu, etc.... Each of these masks are distinguished by hairstyles, location and choice of scarifications, etc. Also called Gbagba, they personify graceful young girls or men whose valor or qualities of integrity are renowned. New generations are gradually replacing these Mblo dances called Gbagba in certain villages, while retaining most of the old conventions, with the Kpan Kpan dance. , whose masks raise societal problems or refer to political projects.