The Kanaga Mask
The most important Dogon mask is the Kanaga, a word that means the "hand of God in creating the world". The mask itself represents the first human beings and it is so important in Dogon spirituality that figures wearing the Kanaga mask are prominently displayed on the Dogon door, a special wood carving that tells the story of Dogon origins. When wearing this mask for the Dama dance, the wearer touches the tip of the mask to the ground and then sweeps it up toward the sky in a movement representing the creation of the earth. The mask is a dual cross with short bars extending up toward the sky and down toward the earth.
Irilli, Mali
The Kanaga Mask
The most important Dogon mask is the Kanaga, a word that means the "hand of God in creating the world". The mask itself represents the first human beings and it is so important in Dogon spirituality that figures wearing the Kanaga mask are prominently displayed on the Dogon door, a special wood carving that tells the story of Dogon origins. When wearing this mask for the Dama dance, the wearer touches the tip of the mask to the ground and then sweeps it up toward the sky in a movement representing the creation of the earth. The mask is a dual cross with short bars extending up toward the sky and down toward the earth.
Irilli, Mali