Mbawa Mask (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
Representing the spirit of the African buffalo, an mbawa mask is used by a diviner to cure illness, keep storms away, ensure fertility and male potency, and oversee circumcision rites. A turtle shell stuffed with a magical charm rests between the horns, giving this mask its special power.
Mbawa masks are very rare. They are made by diviners, rather than a trained artist, for their own use. The ritual master who made this phantomlike mask was not concerned with depicting the buffalo realistically. For example, he substituted antelope horns for the buffalo’s far heavier horns, and he gave the mask human features. A more realistic rendering of a buffalo is seen in the Cameroon buffalo mask with feather costume in the large case on the far wall to the right.
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
