Ntomo Mask

Wood

Provenance
KUNZI gallery, Switzerland (documents included)
Martin GROSS, Switzerland

Literature
Visions of Africa, BAMANA, Jean Paul COLLEYN

This androgynous mask from the Ntomo society is a testament to a rich cultural tradition. With its deep patina and scarifications, this mask symbolizes the initiation of young Bamana boys, who are not yet circumcised. The Ntomo society plays a crucial role in their education, teaching them the origins of man as well as his place in the universe. Through this initiation, the young people are prepared to enter the society of the Koré, thus marking an important transition to adulthood. This ritual represents much more than a simple ceremony; it is a transfer of ancestral knowledge and cultural values, anchoring young people in their identity and their collective heritage.

The book BAMANA by Jean Paul COLLEYN teaches us, for example: The mask, generally monoxyle, carved in mpeku, goni or balanza, is oval, anthropomorphic, with a large straight nose, a tiny or barely outlined mouth. Its major characteristic lies in the row of horns, numbering two to eight, which indicates the sex of the mask: male (3-6), female (4-8) or androgynous (2, 5, 7).