Barakat Gallery
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Artworks
  • Exhibitions
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • Menu

The Barakat Collection

Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Senufo Wooden Polychrome Kpeliye'e Mask, 20th Century CE

Senufo Wooden Polychrome Kpeliye'e Mask, 20th Century CE

Painted Wood
12.25
PF.6250
Enquire
%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3ESenufo%20Wooden%20Polychrome%20Kpeliye%27e%20Mask%3C/span%3E%2C%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E20th%20Century%20CE%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EPainted%20Wood%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E12.25%3C/div%3E
Senufo men have their own 'secret' societies, called the Poro, headed by the village elder, in which the sacred knowledge of manhood is taught to young initiates. Before they are...
Read more
Senufo men have their own "secret" societies, called the Poro, headed by the village elder, in which the sacred knowledge of manhood is taught to young initiates. Before they are taken into the wilderness to learn the clan wisdom, prospective adolescent are symbolically "killed" to signify the end of their childhood. Upon their return, they are welcomed back into the village as adults with an elaborate ceremony.
The most beautiful element of this ceremony is the celebration of the interdependent relationship between man and woman. Young men newly initiated into Poro society wear masks similar to this Kpeliye’e mask. To garner the appreciation of women, these young men, dressed in full, colorful costumes of cloth and raffia to complement their masks, prance gracefully in a masquerade to the beat of pounding drums and dazzling rattles.
This mask, decorated in a rich polychrome of western paints, possibly even nail polish, is a fine example of the Kpeliye’e style. It represents, as all Kpeliye’e masks do, a beautiful, idealized woman. Its face is human in form and its head is crowned by a pair of animal ears and a representation of a hornbill. The Senufo refer to the hornbill as the "master among the birds" because of its sexuality (the phallic beak) and intelligence. "Master," as a title in the men's Poro society, connotes intelligence, creativity, and mastery of a particular skill. By each side of the protruding mouth, with teeth visible, are signs of ritual scarification, also evident on the cheeks and foreheads. Such body decoration was a sign of rank as well as a mark of beauty. To the Senufo, this masks was representative of the wisdom of the sexes, a knowledge we continually struggle to understand today.
Close full details
Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email
Previous
|
Next
12934 
of  28197

London

48 Albemarle Street,

London, W1S 4JW

info@barakatgallery.eu 

 

       


 

CONTACT | TEAM | PRESS 

 

Seoul
58-4, Samcheong-ro,
Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82 02 730 1949
barakat@barakat.kr
             

 

Los Angeles

941 N La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90069
+1 310 859 8408

contact@barakatgallery.com

  


 

 

Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Send an email
View on Google Maps
Manage cookies
Copyright © 2025 Barakat Gallery
Site by Artlogic


Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences
Close

Join our mailing list

Sign Up

* denotes required fields