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Art History Virtual Exhibition

Long-Beaked Rooster Helmet Mask: Researched by Brandellia Hang

October, 2020 by Whitney Mosley

Image of Long-Beaked Rooster Helmet Mask
Long-Beaked Rooster Helmet Mask
Mossi culture
20th century
Wood and pigments
L. 15 cm x W. 20 cm x H. 39 cm
MSU collection #2018.1.2

The Mossi culture of Western Africa neighbors the Bobo culture, and like the Bobo and other nearby cultures, Mossi artists predominantly use red, white, and black pigments and geometric patterns in their masks.  Also like the Bobo, the Mossi make masks that represent bush spirits, which are nature spirits that take animal form. 

Rooster masks are also among the earliest-known Mossi animal masks. They are strongly traditional in style, and they are believed by the Mossi to represent the reincarnation of totem animals, or ancestral spirit animals. Likewise, rooster masks are used in theatrical performances that tell a clan’s mythological origin.  They are also used in harvest festivals, they are danced at funerals as protective spirits, and they may even be used to hold the blood of animals that have been sacrificed to the ancestors during these rituals. Researched by Brandellia Hang

 

 

For more information, you may contact the researcher(s) noted in the title of this exhibit entry, or Dr. Billie Follensbee, the professor of the course, at BillieFollensbee@MissouriState.edu

Filed Under: 2020 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa Tagged With: african art, ceremonial masks, mask, Mossi culture

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Categories

  • 2014 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2014 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2015 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2016 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2016 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa
  • 2017 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2017 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2018 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2018 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa
  • 2019 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2019 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2020 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa

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