Tribal Art

It is through various secret societies that the Bambara initiates will acquire their knowledge, including that of Koré, targeting the elders and during which this mask intervenes. Kore society is divided into eight classes of initiates, the sixth of which is that of the hyenas, or surukuw.

The bulbous forehead of the mask is surmounted a horn which would symbolize the tuft of hair removed after the death of the animal. The prominent forehead refers to intelligence. .
Abrasions from use and cracks.

Established in central and southern Mali, in a savannah zone, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims have named them, belong to the large Mande group, with the Soninke and the Malinke. The Bambara nyamakala artisan groups, more specifically the blacksmiths named numu, are in charge of carving ritual objects, endowed with the nyama , occult energy. Using fire and magic items, they are further assigned the role of healer and diviner.
Ref. : "Animal masks of black Africa" G.Massa and C. Dewé, ed. Sepia.