Sawfish Headdress
Item number 2736/9 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
Item number 2736/9 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
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Sawfish headdress, made of wood painted red, black and white, has protuding eyes and a long sawfish rostrum bound onto the top with string. Attached to the small base are three braided grass strands knotted together to fit over the head, six long grass pleats that hang down like hair and a black grass fringe. A cushioning ring of black cloth is attached with string to base.
Used in Bijogo initiation masquerades. Initiation imparts knowledge that enable boys and men to carve the ceremonial instruments required at death to enable them to be conjoined with the creator god, Nindut. With the exception of Bijogo initiation masquerades, sharks, sawfish, rays and other marine animals are rarely represented in African art.
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Used in Bijogo initiation masquerades. Initiation imparts knowledge that enable boys and men to carve the ceremonial instruments required at death to enable them to be conjoined with the creator god, Nindut. With the exception of Bijogo initiation masquerades, sharks, sawfish, rays and other marine animals are rarely represented in African art.
Sawfish headdress, made of wood painted red, black and white, has protuding eyes and a long sawfish rostrum bound onto the top with string. Attached to the small base are three braided grass strands knotted together to fit over the head, six long grass pleats that hang down like hair and a black grass fringe. A cushioning ring of black cloth is attached with string to base.
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