Sogo Bò Mask Representing a Leopard or Cheetah

Origin: Bambarra Tribe, Mali
Composition: wood (one piece), paint, cotton textile

This mask would have been used in the Sogo Bò masquerade, which teaches lessons on morality and social behavior to Bambarra tribesmen and children. Because each mask is crafted to teach one particular lesson, the meaning and appearance of each mask varies greatly, and can be difficult to interpret. This mask has elaborate "spotted" paintwork, significant signs of age, and a small fragment of the original textile costume with which the mask would have been danced. Acquired from the collection of Ousman Camarra, a Malian dealer who sold African art in Paris for more than 40 years.