Mossi Karanga Antelope Mask

Unlike many African masks worn only by certain castes or secret societies, the karanga mask of the Mossi people of Burkina Faso is held within a patrilineal family line. Crafted in the northern Yatenga region, such masks provide a direct spiritual link between the wearer and their ancestors. The simple oval face mask is topped by an immense totem-like structure decorated with geometric patterns and twisting antelope horns. The antelope is considered a totemic animal inexplicably linked to the clan through a shared life source. Embodying the antelope's spirit through the mask, the wearer reminds his community of their shared origins and connection to the natural world.