Kponyungo (Firespitter) Mask of the Senufo: What It Was For and Why It Matters
Senufo | Côte d'Ivoire and Mali | Funerary / Poro Society
What was it for?
The kponyungo belongs to the Poro society and is worn in funeral processions, often over three days, to honour the dead and drive off evil spirits. Its name comes from kpoo and nyungo and means the head of the deceased one, a funeral head. Firespitter is a Western label.
What does it look like?
A complex helmet combining features of several animals: the jaw of a crocodile, the tusks of a warthog, the horns of an antelope and elements of a human face. The dancer wears a red suit painted with figures. Everything about its form speaks of danger and power.
Why does it matter?
The kponyungo's composite animal form is a statement about its nature. It contains powers from many domains at once. No single creature's power was enough, so the Senufo brought them together in one mask to meet the dangers that surround death.
One thing most people never know
The fire effect that gave the mask its Western name comes from embers of grass and resin, which the dancer blows out through the mask as sparks. The head of the deceased one seems to breathe fire as it moves through the procession, a spectacle that is both frightening and sacred.
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.
