Zoomorphic Sogo Bò Mask

Origin: Bamana Tribe, Mali
Composition: wood, pigments, adhesive
Age: Early 20th Century

The Sogo Bò masquerade (literally meaning “the grass animals come out”) is an ethnic celebration that primarily takes the form of an animal masquerade in which masks, puppets, drumming, singing and dancing are blended into a festive celebration of being Bamana (Bamana, in its full sense, refers to an ethnic and cultural group as well as a belief system).

The animals, either represented by masks or puppets, are metaphors for types of people or behavior patterns among the Bamana, who traditionally have a social and cultural belief system rooted in animism. The Sogo Bò masquerade can also be described as a community festival or ceremony held at the end of the harvest season to celebrate the harvest and the changing of the year. It also commemorates events of the past, commenting on present-day weaknesses, foibles and experiences, while reinforcing Bamana values and affirming their cultural identity.

The puppets and masks represent stock characters that are known to the audience, who recognize the fullness of their meanings. The overall performance routine, characters, performers, performance objects, audience, performance venue, and moral code do not change, yet innovation occurs within this established framework.

The Sogo Bò masquerade is an important social event that serves as an example of a cultural celebration in which tradition dictates a fusion of ritual, disguise and festival (Ref: Kruger, “The Bin Sogo Bò as a Traditional Celebration of Ethnicity,” Third International Conference on Arts in Society, 2008).

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