Mask

Accession Number
2014/2.74

Title
Mask

Artist(s)
Mambila

Artist Nationality
Mambila (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
19th century - 20th century

Medium & Support
string, feather, pigment, and wood

Dimensions
12 1/8 in x 4 3/4 in x 7 1/2 in (30.8 cm x 12.07 cm x 19.05 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communications in memory of Warren M. Robbins

Subject matter
Human and animal features come together in masks for Mambila men's sùàgà masquerade to celebrate male fertility. Sùàgà can best be described as a set of related masquerades and oaths performed in part to resolve local disputes. While both aspects are important, the imagery of the masks reinforce the ideas seen in the oaths. Men's sùàgà has carved masks worn horizontally on the head, sometimes accompanied by fiber costumes. Although different masks are given different names, some are called sùàgà due and sùàgà bur. While it is not clear what kind of animal is portrayed here, similar masks have been described as depicting a crow. 

References Cited:
Gebauer, Paul. 1979. Art of Cameroon. Portland, Or.: Portland Art Museum.
Zeitlyn, David. 1994. "Mambila Figurines and Masquerades: Problems of Interpretation." African Arts, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 38-47+94.

Physical Description
A wooden mask with zoomorphic features. The mouth is in the form of elongated lips, resembling an open beak. Each eye is formed by a short rod in front of a small rectangular projection. Behind the eyes are triangular ears. At the back of the head are two curved projections. The mask is painted red, white and black with a brown feather at the top of the head. 

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
mask

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
fertility
masquerades
men (male humans)
oaths

& Author Notes

All Rights Reserved