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Face Mask (Kanaga)

A work made of wood, pigment, and fiber.

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  • A work made of wood, pigment, and fiber.

Date:

Early/mid–20th century

Artist:

Dogon
Bandiagara region, Mali
Northern Africa and the Sahel

About this artwork

At a dama funeral, a towering plank mask known as sirige (an example of which is displayed nearby) appears after the performance of several cross-shaped kanaga masks. Admired for the vigorously sweeping movements of its dancer, kanaga is worn with a colorful costume that includes a plaited fiber hood and cowrie-shell-covered vest. It appears in groups that range from a few masks to as many as 70.

Status

On View, Gallery 137

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Dogon

Title

Face Mask (Kanaga)

Place

Mali (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1900–1966

Medium

Wood, pigment, and fiber

Dimensions

105.4 × 55.9 × 19.7 cm (41 1/2 × 22 × 7 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Neal Ball in honor of Wilbur Tuggle

Reference Number

2000.493

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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