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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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