Description
This powerful Dun Bé Bidjogo mask comes from the Bijagós archipelago in Guinea-Bissau.
The Bijagós people are known for their striking ritual masks, blending animal force, spirituality and ceremonial authority.
This mask is used during initiation rites, particularly in ceremonies marking the passage to adulthood. These rituals structure Bijagó social organization and mark the transition between the different stages of life.
What you see here represents a bovine.
The Bidjogo people have always maintained a strong relationship with animals, especially marine ones. But cattle did not originally exist in the archipelago: Portuguese colonisers introduced livestock as early as the 15th century.
Very quickly, this animal became an important symbol. The Bidjogo integrated it into their spiritual system: raw strength, controlled aggression, maturity, responsibility.
In ritual dances, these masks embody physical power and the inner transformation experienced by the young initiate. They are worn with costumes, real horns, and often a mix of local materials and external influences.
This work tells the story of the encounter between an ancient tradition and an animal introduced through colonial history, and how the Bidjogo people turned it into a deeply cultural and identity-shaping symbol.
Characteristics
• Weight: 3.6 kg
• Height: 45 cm
• Width: 58 cm
• Green glass eyes, giving an animated, supernatural expression
• Real horns, symbol of power, virility and spiritual force
• Red pigment with white speckles, characteristic of Bijagós aesthetics
• Solid, substantial structure designed to be worn during ceremonies
Symbolism & Function
Dun Bé masks are used in:
• initiation rites
• agricultural ceremonies
• prestige dances
• rituals marking the passage to adulthood
They are associated with island spirits, mythic animals and the invisible world.
The real horns emphasize strength and dominance, while the glass eyes add a vivid presence.
A remarkable piece for collectors of authentic African ritual art.
Provenance
Private collection ZAMBELLI/BRUGNACCHI, assembled between 1990 and 2023.
Transferred to the Spirit Land of Africa Gallery in 2023.
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