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Gurunsi

Gurunsi


The Gurunsi in Burkina Faso number more than 200 000 people and live between the Red Volta and the Black Volta Rivers.
The peoples that comprise the so-called gurunsi peoples include the Nuna, Nunuma, Lela, Winiama, Sisala and others.

The Gurunsi live in village communities, which are very concentrated.

Every three, five, or seven years the young (about 10 years) boys of the community are initiated into the secrets of mask use and meaning, and in their responsibilies as adult members of society. Initiation is called buzuyu, "entrance into the swamp".

The gurunsi carve animal masks and plank mask . Masks carved of wood represent bush spirits, or spirits that take animal forms. The animals that occur most frequently are the antelope, buffalo, bush pig, hornbill, hyena and the serpent.

Frequently the snout of an animal mask is triangular when seen from the front opening. The rim of the mask may be decorated with series of small triangles, with the low interstices colored red. Eyes may be red, white and black circles.

The Winiama are the only people that do not repaint thei masks every year. Mask are often covered with layers of soot from kitchen fires, or of grime from repeated frequent use, so that the original red, white and black geometric shapes are difficult to distinguis, and only are visible in low relief.

Winiama informants state that such dark masks represent malevolent and unpredictable spirits from the bush that, like humans with mental problems, are unkempt and dirty, so that the masks are no repainted each year.
Zoomorphic helmet mask IX

Zoomorphic helmet mask IX

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 62 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic helmet mask VIII

Zoomorphic helmet mask VIII

Mask
Ornate, wood
High 132 cm

Price on demant


Composite vertical face mask IV

Composite vertical face mask IV

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 108 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic helmet mask VII

Zoomorphic helmet mask VII

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 160 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic helmet mask VI

Zoomorphic helmet mask VI

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 93 cm

Price on demant
Composite helmet mask I

Composite helmet mask I

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 69 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic helmet mask V

Zoomorphic helmet mask V

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 160 cm

Price on demant
Composite face mask III

Composite face mask III

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 110 cm

Price on demant
Composite face mask II

Composite face mask II

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 83 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic face mask III

Zoomorphic face mask III

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 90 cm

Price on demant
Composite face mask I

Composite face mask I

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 80 cm

Price on demant
Composite vertical face mask III

Composite vertical face mask III

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 120 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic helmet mask IV

Zoomorphic helmet mask IV

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 140 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic face mask II

Zoomorphic face mask II

Mask
Wood, ornate
60 cm
Width 45 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic face mask I

Zoomorphic face mask I

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 54 cm
Width 39 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic helmet mask III

Zoomorphic helmet mask III

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 42 cm

Price on demant
Female figure

Female figure

Figure
Wood, ornate, polished
High 52 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic helmet mask II

Zoomorphic helmet mask II

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 39 cm

Price on demant
Composite vertical face mask I

Composite vertical face mask I

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 128 cm

Price on demant
Zoomorphic helmet mask I

Zoomorphic helmet mask I

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 60 cm

Price on demant
Composite vertical face mask II

Composite vertical face mask II

Mask
Wood, ornate
High 124 cm

Price on demant