African oval-shaped mask, with a prominent forehead extended by a pointed nose. The arcades house narrow notches depicting the eyes. The mouth is finely engraved. The mask is coated with a kaolin called pemba, from clay soil found in Gabon on the banks of rivers, in savannahs or in forest quarries. Formerly one mixed there human ashes. The dancer is decked out with attributes supposed to give him the qualities of certain animals, such as the panther, the genet or even the monkey. It is equipped with monkey hair scepters. Grainy, abraded dry patina. The Aduma are an ethnic group established in central Gabon, in a mountainous region. The Adouma, “men of the river” or “boat masters”, have long lived on the banks of the Ogooué, upstream and downstream of Lastourville between the Doumé and Bounji reaches. Formerly used for judicial purposes, the mask of great sobriety, called mvoudi, bodi, or even yoyo , is used today during entertainment dances. (Louis Perrois) Ref. : "Masks of Gabon", ed. Wakes.
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