MAMA BUSHCOW MASK

The African Mama Bushcow Mask is a carved wooden headdress with flat horns reminiscent of a bushcow worn with a thick costume of fiber. This central element features a ridge down the middle, flanked by the horns that almost meet at the top to form a circle.  Below, a snout and open jaw project downward. The concave dome beneath is designed to fit the wearer's head. There are attachment holes around the circumference of the head dome.

Originating south of the Jos plateau in the Middle Benue Valley Region, this type of headdress, collectively known as "mangam," played a role in rituals related to agriculture, healing, and rites of passage. The mask may reference bush animals such as the bushcow, waterbuck, or reedbuck. Notably, the use of powdered red ochre on the upper horn surface is significant, symbolising vitality and spirituality.

Condition 

Good, minor wood loss around the snout, central ridge and underneath the dome. Wood is stable.

This mask is offered with an adjustable, tilting bespoke mount