Mau Masks: The Long-Beaked Face That Accuses Sorcerers
New: the 2nd edition of Within Carved Lines: The Secret Meanings of African Masks is out now. Get the book →
Many masking traditions documented in this book carry ritual, initiatory, or entertainment functions. The Mau, northern neighbors of the Dan in Côte d’Ivoire, carve one whose purpose is closer to a courtroom than a ceremony: a face mask with a long beak issuing from the chin, feared by the population because it holds a genuine judicial function, denouncing those suspected of casting spells. That specificity, an art object whose job is accusation rather than celebration, is the throughline worth carrying through this piece. It ties Mau masking directly to the koma association, the powerful anti-sorcery society around which all Mau village life revolves, and explains exactly why this particular mask is feared rather than simply respected.
Who Are the Mau?
The Mau are the southernmost Malinke, belonging to the north Mande linguistic group and living as northern neighbors of the Dan. According to oral tradition, they descend from the Diomande, who migrated from Mali to Côte d’Ivoire, pushing the Dan southward as they settled. For the rest, the Mau lead a life quite similar to that of the Dan, practicing slash-and-burn agriculture in much the same way.
Koma: The Society That Fights Sorcery
The koma, a powerful society that combats sorcery, is the institution around which all Mau village life revolves. It probably stems from the Bambara komo and is also related to the poro of the Senufo, placing Mau religious life within a wider regional network of anti-sorcery and initiation associations. Each male individual must at least accede to the first echelon of initiation, which includes two periods of instruction directed by the master of the association, the koma tiki, the figure who oversees the association’s teaching and authority.
A Mask With a Judicial Function
The Mau carve face masks with a chin issuing a long beak, a distinctive silhouette that sets the mask apart from purely ceremonial forms. This type of mask is feared by the population because it carries a genuine judiciary function: it is worn specifically to denounce spell-casters, turning the mask into an instrument of accusation rather than celebration or initiation alone. The fear it generates isn’t a byproduct of appearance, it follows directly from the real social consequences the mask’s judgment could carry for anyone it named.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the koma?
Koma is a powerful Mau society that combats sorcery and serves as the central institution around which all village life revolves, probably stemming from the Bambara komo and related to the Senufo poro.
What does the Mau long-beaked mask do?
It has a judiciary function: it is worn to denounce those suspected of casting spells, which is why the mask is feared by the population.
Who is the koma tiki?
The koma tiki is the master of the koma association who directs the two periods of instruction required for a male individual to reach the first echelon of initiation.
How are the Mau related to the Dan?
The Mau are the Dan’s northern neighbors and, according to oral tradition, descend from the Diomande, who migrated from Mali and pushed the Dan south as they settled the area.
See also: African Masks by Region and Tribe · The Dan Mask of West Africa: Purpose, Symbolism, and Regional Variations · Every Traditional African Mask You Should Know · African Coming-of-Age Ceremonies: How Different Cultures Mark the Transition to Adulthood
