Ceremonial Headdress, Kurumba Peoples, Burkina Faso

H: 66 inches, 

Material: Wood, Twine

The Kurumba people live in the north of Burkina Faso. They produce a mask headdress in the form of antelope head, which is naturalistic. The powerful neck supports a head with a pointed protruding snout, extending upwards beyond the sharp ears, in a curve ending with the towering horns. The beautiful-shaped head is colorfully designed in triangles in black, brownish-red, light blue, beige, and the triangles are filled with rows of spots. This magnificent headdress is presumed to represent Yirige, the culture hero, who protects the land at the time of tilling, during planting, and

\also harvesting. Masqueraders (dancers) wear this massive headdress by fastening to the head with a plaited basket and cloth, to conceal the dancers face during ceremonies. What a masterpiece of work! 

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