Marka Mask from Mali

Marka masks, originating from the Marka people of Mali, are distinguished by their intricate craftsmanship, featuring elongated faces with narrow eyes, prominent noses, and embellished with metals like brass or copper, along with cowrie shells, beads, and leather.

This type of mask, known as kanaga, is created by the Dogon people of Mali in Western Africa. The masks are used in funerary rituals called dama, which allow the souls of the deceased to leave the village and enter the world of the dead, marking the end of the mourning period. The timing of dama rituals can vary from months to years after a death. Often villages hold a single dama ceremony for all of the deaths in the preceding year. Traditionally, the rituals enhance the prestige of the deceased and his descendants through the lavish performances.