African Arts Gallery

French African art collection
African mask Baoulé, for entertainment, which can therefore, according to the Baule tradition, be seen by women. This sculpture of African art has a dark patina. The hairstyle is formed of buns braided in shells. These Baoulé portrait masks, ndoma, which are part of one of the oldest Baoulé artistic traditions and frequently represent an idealized character, have the particularity of appearing at the end of entertainment dance ceremonies. The latter are named, according to the regions, bedwo, ngblo, mblo, adjussu, etc... Each of these masks are distinguished by the hairstyles, the location and the choice of scarifications, etc... Also called Gbagba, they personify graceful young girls or men whose valor or qualities of integrity are renowned. The new generations are gradually replacing these Mblo dances called Gbagba in some villages, retaining most of the old conventions, with the Kpan Kpan dance, whose masks raise societal problems or refer to political projects.