Ceremonial Sickle Blade
Lobi / Bobo, Burkina Faso
Iron, leather, cotton
Early 20th century

This type of scepter was carried by the leaf-masqueraders of the Dwo society of the Burkina Faso. The leaf masquerader was believed to wield strong supernatural powers because no part of his masquerade costume was permanent, unlike most other African masquerades, where - for example - a wood mask would exist long after the masquerade took place. Possibly modeled after a talking drum striking instument, this iron scepter was used to enforce the laws of the Dwo society (Blandin, Fer Noir, 1992; Ouattara brothers, personal communication, 2006; Roy, Land of the Flying Masks, 2007).

The color photograph below, entitled "Masks at the annual purification rites, Bobo," depicts a leaf masquerader wielding a ceremonial sickle of this type is © Michel Huet (n.d.).

This example has a likeness of the leaf-masquerader incised on the blade.

Published: Wheelock, Land of the Flying Masks, 2006, plate 278. Thomas Wheelock inventory number TW1634.

18 in :: 46 cm

InventoryID #13-2509

Price on Request