Kpellie Mask with Open, Rectangular Mouth
Dublin Core
Title
Kpellie Mask with Open, Rectangular Mouth
Culture
Senufo Tribe
Description
As in many African cultures, the Senufo use masquerades for entertainment, for education, and for serious rituals. The male secret society, known as the Poro, sponsors many masquerades for the education of their young boys, the harvest festivals, and the funerals of prominent members. Because the Senufo believe in the duality of nature, with complementary pairs such as man/woman, earth/sky, and life/death, Poro masks generally appear in such complementary pairs. One of their most famous masks is the Kpellie, a female gendered mask that appears in masquerades with the male-gendered Kponyugu, or firespitter, helmet mask.
Kpellie masks represent a female spirit and may represent the Ancient Mother, the most powerful Senufo ancestral spirit. Because of different phonetic translations, Kpellie masks may also be known as kpelie, kodelie, kpeliyehe, or kpele masks; these all represent the same concept, and they all illustrate the Senufo ideal of female beauty. The mask’s beauty features are reduced to abstracted symbolic form, but they are clearly identifiable: A long straight nose; arched eyebrows that create a heart shape; eyes that are coyly downcast; dark, shining, smooth skin; carefully plaited hair that extends outward from the top and sides of the face; an open mouth displaying teeth; and scarification (raised tattoos) that show youthful maturity and social status are all highly desirable traits.
Senufo masks may also have other features that identify them with different sub-groups among the Poro. The hornbill bird-like features on the top of the mask, along with horn-like features or flanges, are frequently found on Kpellie masks, as they refer to divination and supernatural female power, but also symbolize blacksmiths among the Senufo. Other possible symbols on Kpellie masks include a comb-like feature, which may refer to farmers; a bundle of palm nuts, which may refer to woodcarvers; and a small human figure, which may refer to merchants.
Research by Jessica Diliberto and Briana Parker, 2008, Missouri State University Students. Mentor: Dr. Billie Follensbee
Kpellie masks represent a female spirit and may represent the Ancient Mother, the most powerful Senufo ancestral spirit. Because of different phonetic translations, Kpellie masks may also be known as kpelie, kodelie, kpeliyehe, or kpele masks; these all represent the same concept, and they all illustrate the Senufo ideal of female beauty. The mask’s beauty features are reduced to abstracted symbolic form, but they are clearly identifiable: A long straight nose; arched eyebrows that create a heart shape; eyes that are coyly downcast; dark, shining, smooth skin; carefully plaited hair that extends outward from the top and sides of the face; an open mouth displaying teeth; and scarification (raised tattoos) that show youthful maturity and social status are all highly desirable traits.
Senufo masks may also have other features that identify them with different sub-groups among the Poro. The hornbill bird-like features on the top of the mask, along with horn-like features or flanges, are frequently found on Kpellie masks, as they refer to divination and supernatural female power, but also symbolize blacksmiths among the Senufo. Other possible symbols on Kpellie masks include a comb-like feature, which may refer to farmers; a bundle of palm nuts, which may refer to woodcarvers; and a small human figure, which may refer to merchants.
Research by Jessica Diliberto and Briana Parker, 2008, Missouri State University Students. Mentor: Dr. Billie Follensbee
Century
20th
Item Dimensions
36.5 cm. h. x 19 cm. w. x 8.5 cm. d.
Medium
Sculpture
Materials
Wood
Techniques
Carving
Provenance
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Stoneman
Acession Number
1985.60
Accession Year
1985
Photo Number
20150039