Product Description
Dege Black Monkey Mask, Dogon – Mali
This authentic mask, depicting an abstracted human face showing traces of exposure to the Elem bird mask is made of wood, with a crusted old wooden patina, originates from Mali, located in the administrative districts of Bandiagara and Douentza, Mopti region.
Made of 100% wood, fiber Patin.
Model is W 29 – H 20 and weight 2 kg.
Description
This authentic mask, depicting an abstracted human face showing traces of exposure to the Elem bird mask is made of wood, with a crusted old wooden patina, originates from Mali, located in the administrative districts of Bandiagara and Douentza, Mopti region. There is a myth known, but it has been written in that the black monkeys, Dege, are the “male villains of the bush.” The black monkeys stand for wickedness, gluttony and must not be emulated because it is the antithesis of the Dogon order.
The Dogon are known for their elaborate funeral rituals with extensive use of masks. Their art is outstanding, as their masks and other objects reflect a purity of style rarely encountered in modern Africa. According to Dogon beliefs, the monkey represents wild, uncivilized, dangerous, and antisocial behavior – the direct opposite of their beliefs about the way a proper, solid, upstanding Dogon person is expected to behave. The Dogon utilize three types of monkey masks which are identified solely by their color rather than their shape. For the Dogon, Dege is the black monkey, while the white monkey is known as Omono, and the red monkey is called Ko.
There are nearly eighty styles of Dogon masks, and for the most, they all utilize the use of various geometric shapes in their design, independent of the various animals they are supposed to represent. Most masks have large geometric eyes and stylized features and are often painted or colored with various. The better known Kanaga and masks are followed in the ceremony by masks that evoke the behavior of some of the animals that inhabit the regions where the Dogon live and hunt. They include among others – antelopes, hares, lions, hyenas, cows, birds and monkeys.
The Dogon, an ethnic group are mainly located in the administrative districts of Bandiagara and Douentza in Mali, West Africa. The precise origins of the Dogon people, like those of many other ancient cultures, are not yet determined. Their civilization emerged, in much the same way as ancient Egypt. Around 1490 AD the Dogon people migrated to the Bandiagara cliffs of central Mali. There are approximately 700 Dogon villages, with an average of 400 inhabitants. The tribe’s folk call themselves ‘Dogon’ or ‘Dogom’, but in the older literature they are most often called ‘Habe’, a Fulbe meaning ‘stranger’.
Additional information
| Weight | 2 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 29 × 20 cm |
| Color | |
| Material |
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