Dogon Tribal Mask, Mali
With a lineage dating back to ancient Egypt, The Dogon are recognized for their cosmological insight, believing that Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major, one of the brightest stars in the night sky due to its proximity to Earth, is part of a binary star system. In addition, the Dogon were certain of the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter long before the invention of the telescope.
The Kanaga mask is characterized by a wooden superstructure in the form of a double-barred cross with short vertical elements projecting from the tips of each horizontal bar representing the arms and legs of a creator deity or as the arrangement of the universe depicting Earth and sky.
Worn for rituals called Dama, tribesmen dance to transport the soul of the deceased family members from the village to the world of the afterlife, enhancing the prestige of the deceased. It is incumbent upon the descendants to perform this ritual and show generous displays of hospitality to all who have gathered to say farewell.
