Mask

This female bush-spirit mask-used by the Wee people to embody forest spirits-is one of the most striking works in the AMAM's African collection. Wee masks are often used in ceremonies such as the annual sowing and harvesting of rice when masqueraders gather for festivals intended to ensure prosperity. Possessing enormous spiritual powers to detect and prevent sorcery, these masks are also used in connection with burials, funerals, and initiation ceremonies.

Forest spirits appear to humans in dreams and choose to be represented through male or female masks. Male masks-generally more aggressive in appearance, with geometric patterns, tusks, horns, and bullet cartridges-are considered more important than female masks. The beautiful and refined oval AMAM mask is serene in appearance, with its vertical scarification pattern, kaolin-covered eyes, and full mouth surrounded by braided human hair, bells, and striking blue glass beads. Many of these components incorporate empowering materials that invest the mask with supernatural force. The curved cheek mark, a characteristic that only appears on female masks, is clearly delineated here. A hook on the top of the mask and hooks along the lower edge were added in order to attach a conical cloth-covered headdress. A raffia skirt covering the dancer's upper leg would have completed the costume.