Every other year, thousands of people converge on Dedougou in Burkina Faso to celebrate traditional mask culture. The group organizing the event, called Festima, claim that 100,000 people come to watch over 500 masked men from Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Mali perform across the week-long celebration.
Every other year, thousands of people converge on Dedougou in Burkina Faso to celebrate traditional mask culture. The group organizing the event, called Festima, claim that 100,000 people come to watch over 500 masked men from Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Mali perform across the week-long celebration.
Walter Callens
Audiences are able to see performers in Dogon masks from Mali take to the floor at Dedougou's stadium. Masks such as the kanaga and santimbe (center) are intended to ensure the passage of the dead into the realm of the ancestors, whilst the sirige (right) has been argued to symbolize a multistory house.
Audiences are able to see performers in Dogon masks from Mali take to the floor at Dedougou's stadium. Masks such as the kanaga and santimbe (center) are intended to ensure the passage of the dead into the realm of the ancestors, whilst the sirige (right) has been argued to symbolize a multistory house.
Walter Callens
Anthropologist Laurence Douny says that "Festima is a good way for the organizers to make sure younger generations actually know what the masks are all about. There's a lot of masks in Burkina, but they tend to disappear in some areas because of religion."
Anthropologist Laurence Douny says that "Festima is a good way for the organizers to make sure younger generations actually know what the masks are all about. There's a lot of masks in Burkina, but they tend to disappear in some areas because of religion."
Walter Callens
Festima, entering its 20th year, is as much about passing on traditional culture and raising awareness. Douny admits that the private nature of many masquerades prevents them from being performed in public spaces. Therefore Festima organizes panel discussions and seminars with the intention to create an infrastructure for the preservation and continuation of these traditions.
Festima, entering its 20th year, is as much about passing on traditional culture and raising awareness. Douny admits that the private nature of many masquerades prevents them from being performed in public spaces. Therefore Festima organizes panel discussions and seminars with the intention to create an infrastructure for the preservation and continuation of these traditions.
Walter Callens
Among the most striking costumes on show are the masks of the Dafing (Marka) people of Burkina Faso. Covered head to toe in leaves ("koro") and featuring a crest made from thick dried grass, some believe the masks enhance fertility.
Among the most striking costumes on show are the masks of the Dafing (Marka) people of Burkina Faso. Covered head to toe in leaves ("koro") and featuring a crest made from thick dried grass, some believe the masks enhance fertility.
Walter Callens
Throughout the course of the festival revelers can see performers around the clock, from early morning through to the early hours, when specialist night masks are brought out for show.
Throughout the course of the festival revelers can see performers around the clock, from early morning through to the early hours, when specialist night masks are brought out for show.
Walter Callens
The Zangbeto mask, brought to Festima from Benin, is part of Yoruba culture and also features in Togo. Zangbeto are voodoo guardians of the night, and while those inside the colored straw outfit keep their identities secret, Yoruba legend states that no one lies underneath the costume except the spirits of the night. Its spinning dance signifies the spiritual cleansing of the village.
The Zangbeto mask, brought to Festima from Benin, is part of Yoruba culture and also features in Togo. Zangbeto are voodoo guardians of the night, and while those inside the colored straw outfit keep their identities secret, Yoruba legend states that no one lies underneath the costume except the spirits of the night. Its spinning dance signifies the spiritual cleansing of the village.
Walter Callens
Douny says that masks are charged with magic on ceremonial occasions, and during that time there is a strict ban on photography for any outsiders lucky enough to be in attendance. The anthropologist says that at Festima many masks are not employed in their original context. "It's aesthetic, the physical mask itself," says Douny, "whereas the tradition of masquerade is more about communication between the visible and the invisible."
Douny says that masks are charged with magic on ceremonial occasions, and during that time there is a strict ban on photography for any outsiders lucky enough to be in attendance. The anthropologist says that at Festima many masks are not employed in their original context. "It's aesthetic, the physical mask itself," says Douny, "whereas the tradition of masquerade is more about communication between the visible and the invisible."
Walter Callens
Bwa performers in antelope masks bask in the heat. The Bwa from northeast Burkina Faso retain animist traditions, and mask wearers can fall into a trance-like state when invoking spirits.
Bwa performers in antelope masks bask in the heat. The Bwa from northeast Burkina Faso retain animist traditions, and mask wearers can fall into a trance-like state when invoking spirits.
Walter Callens
Zaouli performers from the Ivory Coast are known from their incredibly fast footwork, kicking up a cloud of dust as they pound the earth to fast rhythmic music.
Zaouli performers from the Ivory Coast are known from their incredibly fast footwork, kicking up a cloud of dust as they pound the earth to fast rhythmic music.
Walter Callens