Festival of Mask

This weekend I went to the village of Boura with another nurse Jessica, my language teacher Tabitha, her son Eben, her husband Dawuda (David in English) and his younger sister Madeline.  Dawuda and Madeline’s parents live in Boura, so we went to visit them and also to see the festival of masks. Dawuda’s dad was an animist before becoming a Christian and eventually a pastor so he was able to give us some insight into the meaning of the masks and dances.  Animists believe that a soul or spirit exists in every object.  Traditionally the masks are brought out at the end of dry season to ask the spirits for good rains.  Animal sacrifices are done and those wearing the masks dance as drums and flutes are played.  The festival this past weekend was more commercial and was to show the different masks and dancers from the various villages around Boura.  Here are some of the pictures from the weekend…

Each village in the circle of Yorosso came with masks, dancers and musicians.  They would walk into a giant circle of people where they’d dance, greet the officials of the village and show off their unique masks and dances.

This is the village that Dawuda grew up in

This is Koloni’s mask – a hyena

There was also night dancing.  I took just a couple of photos of a few of the masks.

Tabitha and Dawuda were wonderful hosts even making sure to bring toilet paper for us =).

Here’s a picture of them with Dawuda’s parents and Eben…

Dawuda preaching at church on Sunday.  Dawuda is a professor at the Bible school in Koutiala called Bethel.

Tabitha also teaches the student pastor’s wives.

The Zonous!