Artwork Page for Mask (Omono or Tana Wurum Bogoro)

Details / Information for Mask (Omono or Tana Wurum Bogoro)

Mask (Omono or Tana Wurum Bogoro)

early 1900s

Africa, West Africa, Mali, Dogon-style blacksmith-carver

Medium
Wood and paint
Measurements
Overall: 91.5 cm (36 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Katherine C. White 1975.151
Public Domain
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Location
108A African
Print
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Did You Know?

The long-armed figure at the top of this mask is omono, a white-bellied monkey.

Description

Dogon masks can be interpreted on two fundamentally different levels: “front speech” (giri so) reflects an early stage of knowledge and consists of a tale that is intended to arouse curiosity; and “speech of the world” (aduno so) refers to Dogon cosmogony, reserved for highly instructed men and women. Masked dances have recently been organized in Dogon regions for tourists and dignitaries. The character of omono is a rare one among the 80 or so that appear in Dogon masquerades.

Mask (Omono or Tana Wurum Bogoro)

early 1900s

Africa, West Africa, Mali, Dogon-style blacksmith-carver

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