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Origin: Crafted by the Bamana (Bambara) people of Mali, West Africa.
Purpose: Used in the male initiation rites of the Ntomo society for young boys before circumcision.
Design Features: Characterized by an elongated face, cowrie shells, seeds, or metal sheeting (such as brass or aluminum), and a comb-like crown of vertical horns or spikes.
Symbolism: The number of horns or prongs often designates the symbolic gender of the mask (e.g., numbers like three, six, or nine traditionally indicate male).
Mask approximately 20”x8”
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