Title: Wan-Zega Mask
Material: Wood and pigment
People: Mossi
Country: Burkina Faso
Description: The Mossi people use a group of 3 masks; the Wan-Zega, the Wan-Sablaga (a female), and the Yali (protective dwarf spirit). The Wan-Zega behaves aggressively chasing spectators using whips to keeps crowds back from the performance area. Trousers made of hemp would have been worn with the mask to allow the performer to run fast and catch members of the audience. The idea was to show the bush spirit how it will be protected when it enters the village, and so they should be protected when leaving the village and entering the wild bush.
We collected this ourselves in a village called Boulsa in Burkina Faso about 30 years ago - and it is now on sale!
Dimensions: The mask is 49" in height x 7" in width, with a depth of 8". On its custom made 8" square metal base, it stands 55" tall.
