Hawk Mask of the Bwa: What It Was For and Why It Matters
Bwa | Burkina Faso | Nature Spirit / Protective
What was it for?
The hawk mask is danced as a protective nature spirit. It appears at initiations, at funerals, at harvest and market dances and at the rites of renewal held in the dry season, joining the other Bwa masks that keep the community in good relation with the spirits of the natural world.
What does it look like?
A long horizontal plank representing the wings, with a large hooked beak projecting from the centre. One example spans five feet six inches. The front of the plank is painted with zigzag patterns and other geometric designs, so the bird appears in flight with its wings fully spread.
Why does it matter?
Bwa masks bring the creatures of the bush and sky into village life, and the hawk is one of the most striking. A bird that watches from above becomes, in the mask, a guardian presence that dances at the turning points of community life, from initiation to burial.
One thing most people never know
The hawk mask is horizontal, not vertical. Where the famous nwantantay rises tall above the dancer, the hawk stretches sideways like a pair of open wings, one example spanning five feet six inches. Two masks from the same tradition can use the plank form in completely different ways.
Further reading: the source record for this entry.
This entry is part of the SEVICS Africa archive of 100 African masks. If you own a mask like this and want to know more about it, try our Mask Identifier.
