African Arts Gallery

African masks and the Muslim influence An enigmatic face with scarified eyelids is topped by curved flat horns. The horns are reminiscent of the siginkuru-ayna bull mask evoking the sacrificial ox associated with the image of the "ancient Muslim" Horingyo.
Established in Côte d'Ivoire, but also in Ghana, the Ligbi, who were Islamized, were however influenced by Senoufo tribal sculpture, since they commissioned Senoufo or Mande to sculpt their masks. The Djimini, on the other hand, are Senufo living in the Dabakala region. For this reason, their masks linked to the do society, whose dances were generally supervised by the Ligbi, are marked by these reciprocal influences. This masked tradition, shared by the Djimini, has been preserved to manifest itself during the religious festivities of aïd-el-fitr and Aïd el Kébir (feast of the sheep) accompanied by sacrifices and songs, and symbolizing in this way the breaking of the fast. Just before the festivities, if necessary, the mask will be repainted and thus coated with koro , composed of burned foliage whose ashes are mixed with palm oil.