Face Mask (Kanaga)
Early/mid–20th century
Dogon Bandiagara region, Mali Northern Africa and the Sahel
Mali
At a dama funeral, a towering plank mask known as sirige (an example of which is displayed nearby) appears after the performance of several cross-shaped kanaga masks. Admired for the vigorously sweeping movements of its dancer, kanaga is worn with a colorful costume that includes a plaited fiber hood and cowrie-shell-covered vest. It appears in groups that range from a few masks to as many as 70.
Wood, pigment, and fiber