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Source Description
Bolo masks are primarily danced for entertainment during communal occasions like funerals, male initiations, and harvest celebrations. Comprising both animal and human features, the mask––always worn by a male dancer––refers to the cultural significance of the ram, an animal associated with male aggression across sub-Saharan Africa.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
286706
label
Ram Mask (Bolo)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
286706
contentType
object
title
Ram Mask (Bolo)
description
Bolo masks are primarily danced for entertainment during communal occasions like funerals, male initiations, and harvest celebrations. Comprising both animal and human features, the mask––always worn by a male dancer––refers to the cultural significance of the ram, an animal associated with male aggression across sub-Saharan Africa.
date
possibly early 1900s
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Mask
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 45 x 36 x 36 cm (17 11/16 x 14 3/16 x 14 3/16 in.)
cul
Africa, West Africa, Burkina Faso, Bobo-style blacksmith-carver
accession
2016.56
Source extras
tec
Wood and paint
tombstone
Ram Mask (Bolo), possibly early 1900s. Africa, West Africa, Burkina Faso, Bobo-style blacksmith-carver. Wood and paint; overall: 45 x 36 x 36 cm (17 11/16 x 14 3/16 x 14 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 2016.56
collection
African Art
didYouKnow
The mask was vividly painted while in use. Look closely at its surface to see traces of blue, red, and white paint.
citations
citation
Maesen, Alebert, et al. <em>Art d’Afrique dans les collections belges</em>, cat. 21. Exh. Cat. Tervuren: Royal Museum for Central Africa, June 29-October 30, 1963.
page_number
cat. 21
citation
Leuzinger, Elsy. <em>Die Kunst von Schwarz-Afrika</em>, cat. C6. Exh. Cat. Recklinghausen: Verlag Aurel Bongers, in association with Kunsthaus Zürich, October 31, 1970-February 10, 1971.
page_number
cat. C6
creditline
René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
sketchfabId
edfcda0e03504bd186ad650b9ea39566
updatedAt
2026-06-18 21:15:56.281000
sourceId
286706
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
Wood and paint
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
70c3bd308860806b