Description

Yohouré masks symbolize Yu or spiritual power. They feature an elongated face with a protruding mouth, semi-circular eyes and a high forehead, framed by a characteristic hairstyle, surmounted by a totem animal or a comb-shaped motif.

The crenellated pattern on the edge of the masks is characteristic of Yohouré masks, which are generally worn on two occasions: the Ye celebration to purify the village after a death, and the Lo ceremony to help the soul of the deceased reach eternal rest. It can also appear during festivities. This Lomane mask, with a bird whose head is facing downwards, symbolizes the sacred union between the visible and invisible worlds. The bird is very common in Yohouré statuary and represents spiritual elevation. The Yohouré are a subgroup of the Akan people, geographically close to the Baoulé and the Gouro.