Kore Society Hyena Mask

Accession Number
1971/2.20

Title
Kore Society Hyena Mask

Artist(s)
Senufo

Artist Nationality
Senufo (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1900-1971

Medium & Support
wood and pigment

Dimensions
15 1/2 in x 8 1/16 in x 6 1/16 in (39.4 cm x 20.5 cm x 15.4 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase assisted by the Friends of the Museum of Art

Label copy
This mask is used by members of the Kore association, which is the highest-ranking association among the Bamana. Kore rituals are performed to maintain harmony between man and nature. Often, rites include making supplications for rainfall to insure abundant crops. During ceremonies, masked society members form a court in which different animals function as courtiers. Each animal mask plays a particular role in the court ceremony. The hyena guards the secrecy of the rituals by keeping away the uninitiated.

Primary Object Classification
Wood and Woodcarving

Primary Object Type
mask

Collection Area
African

Rights
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Keywords
Animals
masks
masks (costume)
woodwork

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted